IL-6 (E1D1N) Rabbit mAb

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with central roles in immune regulation, inflammation, hematopoiesis, and oncogenesis. Its biological activities are shared by other IL-6 family members, such as leukemia inhibitory factor and oncostatin M (1). To exert its biological effects, IL-6 must bind to the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), composed of two alpha chains (IL-6Rα, 80 kDa) and two beta chains (IL-6Rβ or gp130, 130 kDa). Two moieties of IL-6 and two pairs of these receptor chains form a functional hexameric IL-6R complex. The subsequent intracellular signaling events are activated via gp130, which is the common signal transducer of cytokines related to IL-6. Activation of the IL-6R stimulates at least three major signaling pathways: JAK/STAT, PI-3 kinase, and MAPK signaling pathways (2,3). 1.Ito, H. (2003) Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy 2, 125-30. 2.Taniguchi, T. (1995) Science 268, 251-5. 3.Boulton, T.G. et al. (1994) J Biol Chem 269, 11648-55.