Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an endogenous chemical which is active in inflammation, and in B cell maturation. Besides being an immune protein, it is also a pyrogen, and is responsible for fever in autoimmune, infectious or non-infectious disease. It is produced in the body, wherever there is inflammation, either acute or chronic. This includes situations such as trauma, burns, cancers and infection. It interacts with interleukin-6 receptor alpha, to induce transcription of inflammatory gene products.

Interleukin-6 is implicated in a host of chronic disease conditions associated with inflammation. Interleukin-6 is also suspected to cause increased susceptibility to diabetes mellitus, and to the systemic form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Interleukin-6 is released by monocytes and macrophages in response to other inflammatory cytokines which include interleukin-11, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-beta. The IL-6 receptor is present on normal T-lymphocytes in the resting phase, normal activated B-cells, and cells in the myeloid and hepatic cell lines. It is also found on B cells modified by the Epstein-Barr virus.

Interleukin-6 produces inflammatory effects by inducing the transcription of factors in multiple pathways of inflammation. These may originate with protein kinase C, cAMP/ protein kinase A, and calcium release. IL-6 is a molecule with multiple forms and functions, depending on where it is secreted. These include:

• Stimulation of acute phase reactions. These promote the activation of innate immunity, keeping tissue damage at bay. When the liver secretes these acute phase reactants, other proteins like albumin and transferrin are necessarily secreted in lesser quantities. Two major acute phase proteins are C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid A (SAA). While CRP stimulates phagocytosis, interleukin-6 enhances the production of the clotting factor fibrinogen. The production of acute phase reactants causes the onset of fever, high glucocorticoid levels, activation of complement pathways and of coagulation pathways, with a high ESR, are other manifestations.
• Interleukin-6 also helps T-cells to differentiate early in their development. It is required for progenitor cell development, and also for T-cell and NK cell activation. In addition, it helps them to achieve pathogen lysis inside the cells.
• Interleukin-6 also helps B-cells differentiate and proliferate, and promotes the formation of plasma cells from B-cells. In addition, as a growth factor for these cells, it enhances antibody release, in the form of IgA and IgG.
• Interleukin-6 is also vital for the development of blood cells, whether white cells, red cells or platelets. It seems to play an important role in the development of Kaposi’s sarcoma, and multiple myeloma.
• IL-6 also leads to the activation of osteoclasts and osteoporosis. It also induces the secretion of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), which leads to the increased growth of blood vessels and vascular permeability in inflammation.

Thus IL-6 participates in the short-term defence against infection or injury, and warns the immune system against the source of inflammation. However, defective regulation of this molecule results in disease.

Interleukin-6 deficiency has profound effects on immune activation and IgA antibodies. On the other hand, interleukin-6 overexpression has equally important effects. Acting through different pathways, IL-6 creates an immunological imbalance between Th-17 cells and Treg cells, resulting in autoimmune pathology. Defective IL-6 regulation may also produce lymphoid malignancies, and may be due to a mutation in the IL-6 gene.

Tocilizumab, a drug which inhibits the interleukin-6 receptor, has been studied as a therapeutic helper in a variety of chronic inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and Castleman’s disease. Interleukin-6 is also used as a biological response modifier. It is used to enhance the response to chemotherapy by stimulating the immune response in cancer.

References

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3569
• http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/immunology/students/spring2003/sole/myfavprotein.htm
• http://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=44045
• http://www.ijbs.com/v08p1227.htm

Further Reading

• All Interleukin-6 Content
• What Does Interleukin 6 Do?
• Interleukin 6 Receptor
• Interleukin 6 and Disease

Written by

Dr. Liji Thomas

Dr. Liji Thomas is an OB-GYN, who graduated from the Government Medical College, University of Calicut, Kerala, in 2001. Liji practiced as a full-time consultant in obstetrics/gynecology in a private hospital for a few years following her graduation. She has counseled hundreds of patients facing issues from pregnancy-related problems and infertility, and has been in charge of over 2,000 deliveries, striving always to achieve a normal delivery rather than operative.