title: Immunomodulatory properties of the IL-6 cytokine family in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The interleukin (IL)-6 cytokine family plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response in MS. All members of the IL-6 family share the common signal-transducing receptor protein, glycoprotein 130. Although the intracellular signaling of these cytokines seems to be largely overlapping, they have diverse and contrasting effects on the immune response. This review focuses on the effects of the family members IL-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, and IL-11 on immune cell subsets and how these effects relate to the pathogenesis of MS. Finally, we propose possible avenues to modulate these family members for future MS therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Slaets
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hellings
mesh_terms: D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D053683:Oncostatin M / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; C508611:IL11 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D017370:Interleukin-11; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; C480482:glycoprotein 130, human; D053683:Oncostatin M
keywords: immune response; interleukin-11; interleukin-6; leukemia inhibitory factor; multiple sclerosis; oncostatin M