Interleukin-6
Interleukin 6 (IL6), also referred to as B cell stimulatory factor-2 (BSF-2) and interferon beta-2.
It is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine of low molecular weight, approximately 26 kD, with a biological half-time of less than one hour 1) , involved in a wide variety of biological functions.
Generally, IL-6 exerts proinflammatory effects including stimulation of the growth of mature B cells and promotion of the synthesis of C-reactive protein by the liver during tissue injury of infection 2) 3).
High circulating IL-6 levels are associated with various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer growth, acute cerebral ischemia, and acute brain injury 4) 5) 6) 7) 8).
IL-6 and MMP9 may be involved in the acute process of pituitary apoplexy in Cushing's disease.
The optimism surrounding the Interleukin 6 inhibitor drugs should be tempered with caution, as further research is needed to completely understand its efficacy, side effects, and therapeutic potential 9).
Classification
Family: IL-6 Cytokine Family
IL-6 belongs to the IL-6 family of cytokines, which share the common receptor subunit gp130 for signal transduction.
Other members of the IL-6 family include:
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF)
Cardiotrophin-1 (CTF1)
Oncostatin M (OSM)
Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF)
Interleukin-11 (IL-11)
Interleukin-27 (IL-27)