Biology of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and its significance in the pathogenesis of some diseases

In the paper numerous activities of IL-6 toward various normal and neoplastic cells are reviewed. The role of this cytokine in pathophysiology of a various disease including infections and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as in leukaemias, lymphomas and other neoplastic diseases is presented. Potential clinical value of the IL-6 levels in the serum and the role of its recombinant form in the treatment of thrombocytopenia and some neoplastic diseases is also discussed.