title: Interleukin-6: a cytokine and/or a major modulator of the response to somatic stress.
abstract: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the proinflammatory cytokines (and interleukin-6 [IL-6] in particular) are enmeshed in the response to somatic stress, either in health or in acute or chronic disease. Usually IL-6 is elevated in states of septic (such as sepsis) or aseptic inflammation (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Exercise is a form of somatic stress. Local tissue IL-6 elevation is noted during shorter and less intense exercise, whereas brief peripheral IL-6 "bursts" are observed with longer and more intense exercise. Therapeutic interventions that target IL-6 or its soluble receptor are currently assessed, with an emphasis on autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Greece. mastorak@mail.kapatel.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastorakos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ilias
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6