Interleukin-6 Protein (IL6) Mouse Active Protein

This gene encodes a member of the interleukin family of cytokines that have important functions in immune response, hematopoiesis, inflammation and the acute phase response. The ectopic overexpression of the encoded protein in mice results in excessive plasma cells in circulation, leading to death. Mice lacking the encoded protein exhibit abnormalities in hepatic acute phase response, some immune mechanisms, bone resorption in response to estrogen, liver regeneration and wound healing. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2015]

IL6: Cytokine with a wide variety of biological functions. It is a potent inducer of the acute phase response. Plays an essential role in the final differentiation of B-cells into Ig- secreting cells Involved in lymphocyte and monocyte differentiation. It induces myeloma and plasmacytoma growth and induces nerve cells differentiation Acts on B-cells, T-cells, hepatocytes, hematopoietic progenitor cells and cells of the CNS. Also acts as a myokine. It is discharged into the bloodstream after muscle contraction and acts to increase the breakdown of fats and to improve insulin resistance. Genetic variations in IL6 are associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis systemic juvenile (RASJ). An inflammatory articular disorder with systemic- onset beginning before the age of 16. It represents a subgroup of juvenile arthritis associated with severe extraarticular features and occasionally fatal complications. During active phases of the disorder, patients display a typical daily spiking fever, an evanescent macular rash, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, serositis, myalgia and arthritis. A IL6 promoter polymorphism is associated with a lifetime risk of development of Kaposi sarcoma in HIV-infected men. Belongs to the IL-6 superfamily.

Protein type: Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 5 B1|5 15.7 cM

Cellular Component: cytoplasm; external side of plasma membrane; extracellular space; interleukin-6 receptor complex

Molecular Function: cytokine activity; growth factor activity; interleukin-6 receptor binding; protein binding; receptor binding

Biological Process: cell growth; cell redox homeostasis; cytokine and chemokine mediated signaling pathway; defense response to protozoan; defense response to virus; endocrine pancreas development; glucose homeostasis; hepatic immune response; inflammatory response; muscle maintenance; myeloid cell homeostasis; negative regulation of apoptosis; negative regulation of bone resorption; negative regulation of caspase activity; negative regulation of cell proliferation; negative regulation of chemokine biosynthetic process; negative regulation of collagen biosynthetic process; negative regulation of cytokine secretion; negative regulation of gluconeogenesis; negative regulation of hormone secretion; negative regulation of membrane potential; negative regulation of muscle development; negative regulation of protein kinase activity; neurite development; neutrophil apoptosis; positive regulation of acute inflammatory response; positive regulation of apoptosis; positive regulation of B cell activation; positive regulation of cell proliferation; positive regulation of chemokine production; positive regulation of DNA replication; positive regulation of epithelial cell proliferation; positive regulation of immunoglobulin secretion; positive regulation of interleukin-6 production; positive regulation of JAK-STAT cascade; positive regulation of MAPKKK cascade; positive regulation of neuron differentiation; positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthetic process; positive regulation of peptidyl-serine phosphorylation; positive regulation of peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation; positive regulation of protein import into nucleus, translocation; positive regulation of protein kinase B signaling cascade; positive regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation; positive regulation of T cell proliferation; positive regulation of T-helper 2 cell differentiation; positive regulation of transcription factor activity; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; positive regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent; positive regulation of translation; positive regulation of transmission of nerve impulse; positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT protein; regulation of apoptosis; regulation of cell proliferation; regulation of cell shape; regulation of circadian sleep/wake cycle, non-REM sleep; response to glucocorticoid stimulus; response to wounding; T cell activation