Il-6 Receptor Alpha (IL-6) Human 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: Membrane protein, integral; Receptor, cytokine

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 1q21.3

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

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

Biological Process: acute-phase response; cytokine and chemokine mediated signaling pathway; defense response to Gram-negative bacterium; endocrine pancreas development; hepatic immune response; monocyte chemotaxis; positive regulation of cell proliferation; positive regulation of chemokine production; positive regulation of interleukin-6 production; positive regulation of leukocyte chemotaxis; positive regulation of osteoblast differentiation; positive regulation of peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation; positive regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation; positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3 protein; response to cytokine stimulus

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