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Description

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is secreted by T cells and macrophages and acts as both a pro-inflammatory cytokine and an anti-inflammatory myokine. Some of its functions include the stimulation of the immune response during infection, induction of fever in autoimmune, infectious and non-infectious diseases, the stimulation of acute phase reactions, differentiation of T cells, proliferation and differentiation of B-cells, the development of blood cells as well as the activation of osteoclasts and osteoporosis and the secretion of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEFG) to increase blood vessel growth and vascular permeability in inflammation. It is important for a short-term defense against infection, injury and inflammation however dysregulation of IL-6 results in disease.IL-6 is important in the study of diseases such as diabetes, lupus, multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers such as prostate and pancreatic cancer. Conversely, deficiency of IL-6 can have an effect on immune activation and IgA antibodies while overexpression of IL-6 can result in an immunological imbalance leading to an autoimmune pathology.