The wolf in sheep's clothing: the role of interleukin-6 in immunity, inflammation and cancer.
Recent discoveries involving the cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 have originated from diverse disciplines, revealing roles in biological processes that are likewise varied. The most novel findings suggest a connection between inflammation and diseases, such as insulin resistance associated with diabetes mellitus and cancer, which had not or only weakly been appreciated previously. The IL-6 pathway is one of the mechanisms linking inflammation to these disease processes. In addition, new evidence points toward IL-6 as one of the mediators coordinating the interface between adaptive and innate immunity. Here, we review the evidence linking IL-6 to inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Naugler
Willscott E
WE
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA.
Karin
Michael
M
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
D015850:Interleukin-6; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors