IL-6R alpha Active Protein

This gene encodes a subunit of the interleukin 6 (IL6) receptor complex. Interleukin 6 is a potent pleiotropic cytokine that regulates cell growth and differentiation and plays an important role in the immune response. The IL6 receptor is a protein complex consisting of this protein and interleukin 6 signal transducer (IL6ST/GP130/IL6-beta), a receptor subunit also shared by many other cytokines. Dysregulated production of IL6 and this receptor are implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as multiple myeloma, autoimmune diseases and prostate cancer. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. A pseudogene of this gene is found on chromosome 9.[provided by RefSeq, May 2011]

IL6R: Part of the receptor for interleukin 6. Binds to IL6 with low affinity, but does not transduce a signal. Signal activation necessitate an association with IL6ST. Activation may lead to the regulation of the immune response, acute-phase reactions and hematopoiesis. Belongs to the type I cytokine receptor family. Type 3 subfamily. 2 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: Receptor, cytokine; Membrane protein, integral

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 1q21

Cellular Component: extracellular space; basolateral plasma membrane; apical plasma membrane; extracellular region; plasma membrane; interleukin-6 receptor complex

Molecular Function: protein binding; interleukin-6 binding; protein homodimerization activity; enzyme binding; interleukin-6 receptor binding; ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor activity; interleukin-6 receptor activity

Biological Process: positive regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation; negative regulation of collagen biosynthetic process; cytokine and chemokine mediated signaling pathway; neutrophil mediated immunity; positive regulation of interleukin-6 production; positive regulation of leukocyte chemotaxis; defense response to Gram-negative bacterium; endocrine pancreas development; positive regulation of chemokine production; activation of NF-kappaB transcription factor; positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3 protein; monocyte chemotaxis; positive regulation of osteoblast differentiation; positive regulation of peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation; defense response to Gram-positive bacterium; positive regulation of MAPKKK cascade; response to cytokine stimulus; positive regulation of cell proliferation; acute-phase response; negative regulation of interleukin-8 production; hepatic immune response

Disease: Interleukin 6, Serum Level Of, Quantitative Trait Locus; Soluble Interleukin-6 Receptor, Serum Level Of, Quantitative Trait Locus