The wolf in sheep's clothing: the role of interleukin-6 in immunity, inflammation and cancer

Willscott E. Naugler, Michael Karin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

615 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent discoveries involving the cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 have originated from diverse disciplines, revealing roles in biological processes that are likewise varied. The most novel findings suggest a connection between inflammation and diseases, such as insulin resistance associated with diabetes mellitus and cancer, which had not or only weakly been appreciated previously. The IL-6 pathway is one of the mechanisms linking inflammation to these disease processes. In addition, new evidence points toward IL-6 as one of the mediators coordinating the interface between adaptive and innate immunity. Here, we review the evidence linking IL-6 to inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)109-119
Number of pages11
JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The wolf in sheep's clothing: the role of interleukin-6 in immunity, inflammation and cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this