[Basic and clinical aspects of IL-6].

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine regulating immune response, production of acute phase reactants in hepatocytes, growth of hematopoietic stem cells and other cellular functions in many cell lineages. The increased production of IL-6 is often seen in infections diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, and certain tumors which accompany polyclonal B cell activation and increased level of CRP. Recent progress in the study of the basic aspects on IL-6 will be discussed, which includes the regulation mechanisms of IL-6 gene, the structure of IL-6 receptor complex (IL-6, 80 KDa IL-6 receptor and signal transducing gp130) and IL-6 signal transduction pathways.