title: Principles of interleukin (IL)-6-type cytokine signalling and its regulation.
abstract: The IL (interleukin)-6-type cytokines IL-6, IL-11, LIF (leukaemia inhibitory factor), OSM (oncostatin M), ciliary neurotrophic factor, cardiotrophin-1 and cardiotrophin-like cytokine are an important family of mediators involved in the regulation of the acute-phase response to injury and infection. Besides their functions in inflammation and the immune response, these cytokines play also a crucial role in haematopoiesis, liver and neuronal regeneration, embryonal development and fertility. Dysregulation of IL-6-type cytokine signalling contributes to the onset and maintenance of several diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis and various types of cancer (e.g. multiple myeloma and prostate cancer). IL-6-type cytokines exert their action via the signal transducers gp (glycoprotein) 130, LIF receptor and OSM receptor leading to the activation of the JAK/STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) cascades. This review focuses on recent progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of IL-6-type cytokine signal transduction. Emphasis is put on the termination and modulation of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway mediated by tyrosine phosphatases, the SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signalling) feedback inhibitors and PIAS (protein inhibitor of activated STAT) proteins. Also the cross-talk between the JAK/STAT pathway with other signalling cascades is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, RWTH Aachen, Universitätsklinikum, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. heinrich@rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Behrmann
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haan
authors.forename: Heike M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hermanns
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Müller-Newen
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schaper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6