|
Background
|
Interleukin 6, or IL-6, is a 21 kDa multifunctional protein, 212 amino acids in length, that plays critical roles in host defense, immune response, and hematopoiesis. IL-6 is constitutively expressed by epidermal Langerhans cells and its expression is induced in stimulated keratinocytes. IL-6, IL-1 β and TNFa act as endogenous pyrogens, regulating the fever response to bacterial invasion. The IL-6 receptor is a trimeric complex composed of an IL-6 specific a chain and a homodimer of the gp130 glycoprotein common to the IL-6, IL-11, CNTF, OSM and LIF receptors. Stimulation with IL-6 leads to gp130 homodimerization and the activation of associated kinases JAK1 and JAK2. Once activated, JAK1 and JAK2 phosphorylate Stat3 causing its nuclear translocation and transcription of Stat3-responsive genes. IL-6 has also been shown to activate the Ras/MAP kinase pathway, which regulates NF-IL-6 transcription. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokine, produced by a wide variety of cells including B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelial cells and plays a major role in the regulation of immune responses, haematopoiesis and the induction of acute phase responses.
|
|
Pathways
|
Hormone Transport, Negative Regulation of Hormone Secretion, Myometrial Relaxation and Contraction, Positive Regulation of Immune Effector Process, Production of Molecular Mediator of Immune Response, Regulation of Carbohydrate Metabolic Process, Autophagy, Cell RedoxHomeostasis
|
