Target Analysis of Human IL-6
Human IL-6
Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates immune responses, hematopoiesis, and acute phase reactions, indicating that it plays a central role in the host defense mechanism. IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory as well as an anti-inflammatory cytokine that contributes to a plethora of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Abnormal expression of IL6 is directly related to the pathogenesis of several diseases, such as myelomas and plasmacytomas, Castleman’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and cardiac myxoma.
The role of IL6 in neoplasias is well documented. Oncoproteins like Ras induce secretion of IL6 in various cell types promoting tumorigenesis via neoangiogenesis. In addition, IL-6 in conjunction with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been shown to block apoptosis during inflammation, thereby keeping the cells alive in very toxic environments and promoting neoplastic growth. Suppression of IL6 activity has been shown to fight tumor formation in pre-clinical models. The important role of IL-6 in cancer makes it an interesting therapeutic target.
In this report, we analyze the IL6 gene with respect to its pharmacogenetic properties. The areas of focus include:
- Gene summary
- Orthologs and paralogs
- Alternate transcription
- Expression
- SNP analysis
- Other genetic alterations
- Promoter analysis
- Protein domains
- Disease
Executive Summaries and Sample Pages