Background
This gene encodes a cytokine that functions in inflammation and the maturation of B cells. In addition, the encoded protein has been shown to be an endogenous pyrogen capable of inducing fever in people with autoimmune diseases or infections. The protein is primarily produced at sites of acute and chronic inflammation, where it is secreted into the serum and induces a transcriptional inflammatory response through interleukin 6 receptor, alpha. The functioning of this gene is implicated in a wide variety of inflammation-associated disease states, including suspectibility to diabetes mellitus and systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2015]
Alternative Names
Sirukumab; 1194585-53-9; CNTO 136; AME-19A; IL6; interleukin 6 (interferon, beta 2); IFNB2; interleukin-6; BSF2; HGF; HSF; IL 6; CDF; BSF-2; IFN-beta-2; interferon beta-2; interleukin BSF-2; hybridoma growth factor; CTL differentiation factor; B-cell stimulatory factor 2;
Cellular Localization
Extracellular region or secreted
Involvement in Disease
Diseases associated with IL6 include Kaposi Sarcoma and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Juvenile.
Related Pathways
Its related pathways are Transcriptional misregulation in cancer and Folate Metabolism.
Function
Cytokines with multiple biological functions. It is a powerful inducer of acute phase reactions. It plays an important role in the differentiation of b cells into insulin-secreting cells, and participates in the differentiation of lymphocytes and monocytes. It acts on b cells, t cells, hepatocytes, hematopoietic progenitor cells and central nervous system cells. Required to produce T(H)17 cells. Also plays the role of muscle factor. After muscle contraction, it is released into the blood, which increases the breakdown of fat and improves insulin resistance. It can induce the growth of myeloma and plasmacytoma and the differentiation of nerve cells.
Post-translational modifications
N- and O-glycosylate
Biologic Classification
Protein Based Therapies
Monoclonal antibody (mAb)
Antibody Clone
Elsilimomab
Description
This product is an ADCC enhanced antibody produced by our Afuco™ platform. Recombinant monoclonal antibody to IL-6. Elsilimomab (also known as B-E8) is a mouse monoclonal antibody and an immunosuppressive drug. It (OPR-003) targets (and blocks) Interleukin-6. It has undergone a number of early stage clinical trails, e.g. for lymphoma and myeloma. It was used as a template to develop a high-affinity, antagonist, fully human anti-IL-6 mAb 1339.
Indication
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Despite Methotrexate Therapy)
