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],
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Function:
Disease:At least 1 polymorphism in the IL6 gene renders HIV-infected men susceptible to Kaposi sarcoma [MIM:148000]. Kaposi sarcoma is a sarcoma of spindle cells mixed with angiomatous tissue. A relatively rare malignant skin tumor that results in multifocal purplish coloured papules or plaques that eventually form nodules. Most commonly seen in patients who suffer from AIDS.,Disease:Genetic variations in IL6 are associated with susceptibility to systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [MIM:604302]. Systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is juvenile chronic arthritis associated with severe, debilitating, extraarticular features, and occasionally fatal complications. Despite medical treatment, many children still experience early joint destruction, necessitating surgical replacement.,Function:IL-6 is a cytokine with a wide variety of biological functions: it plays an essential role in the final differentiation of B-cells into Ig-secreting cells, it induces myeloma and plasmacytoma growth, it induces nerve cells differentiation, in hepatocytes it induces acute phase reactants.,online information:Interleukin-6 entry,online information:The Singapore human mutation and polymorphism database,polymorphism:Genetic variations in IL6 may be correlated with bone mineral density (BMD). Low BMD is a risk factor for osteoporotic fracture. Osteoporosis is characterized by reduced bone mineral density, disrutption of bone microarchitecture, and the alteration of the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone. Osteoporotic bones are more at risk of fracture.,PTM:N- and O-glycosylated.,similarity:Belongs to the IL-6 superfamily.,