Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multi-functional cytokine that regulates immune responses, acute phase reactions and hematopoiesis and may play a central role in host defense mechanisms. IL-6 is usually not produced constitutively by normal cells, but its expression is readily induced by a variety of cytokines,lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or viral infections. IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by a variety of cells. It acts on a wide range of tissues, exerting growth-induction, growth-inhibition, and differentiation respectively, depending on the nature of the target cells. IL-6 is involved in: - the induction of B-cell differentiation - the induction of acute phase proteins in liver cells - growth promotion of myeloma/plasmacytoma/hybridoma cells - induction of IL-2 and IL-2 receptor expression - proliferation and differentiation of T cells - inhibition of cell growth of certain myeloid leukemic cell lines and induction of their differentiation to macrophages - enhancement of IL-3-induced multipotential colony cell formation in hematopoietic stem cells and induction of maturation of megakaryocytes as a thrombopoietic factor - induction of mesangial cell growth - induction of neural differentiation of PC 12 cells - induction of keratinocyte growth The abnormal production of IL-6 was first suggested to be related to polyclonal B-cell activation with autoantibody production in patients with cardiac myxoma. Since then, IL-6 has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases. Measurement of IL-6 levels in serum and other body fluids thus provides more detailed insights into various pathological situations. Sample Types: cell culture, serum. Sample Size: 50 μL. Range: 1.9 - 120 U/mL. Sensitivity: 1.3 U/mL. Time: 3hr 10min
Size
96 wells
Concentration
n/a
Applications
Immunoassays. Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.