Interleukin-6: possible implications in human diseases.
It has been demonstrated that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine regulating immune response, acute-phase reaction and hematopoiesis. The deregulated expression of IL-6 was suggested to be actually involved in the pathogenesis of polyclonal B cell activation and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. It could be hypothesized that continuous polyclonal B cell activation may be eventually leading to the generation of plasmacytoma/myeloma, possibly with additional expression of oncogene(s) such as c-myc gene. Therefore, future studies on the gene regulation of IL-6 would provide critical informations on the molecular pathogenesis of these diseases. Furthermore, IL-6 could be used as anti-cancer drug in certain tumors. Moreover, inhibitors of IL-6 such as anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies or soluble forms of IL-6 receptors could be useful in the treatment of such polyclonal/monoclonal B cell abnormalities.
Hirano
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T
Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University.
Kishimoto
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008223:Lymphoma; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D009101:Multiple Myeloma; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D010954:Plasmacytoma; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6