Interleukin 6 News and Research

RSS

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the "IL6" gene. IL-6 is an interleukin that acts as both a pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine. It is secreted by T cells and macrophages to stimulate immune response to trauma, especially burns or other tissue damage leading to inflammation.

New research uncovers role of spleen in long-term anxiety following psychological stress

Scientists are uncovering clues to what might be unfolding in the relationship between the brain and immune system in those who suffer from long-term repercussions of stress.

14 Nov 2016

New research explains how tumors may impair ability of the liver to respond to caloric deprivation

One of the worst cruelties of lethal cancer is the phenomenon called wasting, or in medical terms, cachexia (pronounced ka-CHEX-ia), in which a patient seems literally to diminish in bodily terms as the cancer ravages one or more internal organs.

8 Nov 2016

Scientists develop new strategy to stop uncontrollable poison ivy itch

Scientists at Duke Health and Zhejiang Chinese Medical University have developed a strategy to stop the uncontrollable itch caused by urushiol, the oily sap common to poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak and even mango trees.

7 Nov 2016

Biologic drugs may help prevent progressive bone loss in patients with RA

A new review by the International Osteoporosis Foundation Chronic Inflammation and Bone Structure Working Group concludes that early and aggressive treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with biologic drugs, specifically biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), may be most effective in halting progressive bone loss in patients with RA.

7 Nov 2016

TSRI researchers uncover mechanism behind T cell exhaustion

In a new study with broad implications for treating cancers and chronic viral infections, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have uncovered a mechanism behind a phenomenon called “T cell exhaustion.”

2 Nov 2016

TPU scientists developing bioactive coating for medical implants

A group of young scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University are developing a bioactive coating for medical implants. Due to its properties, it will be able to "convince" the body not to reject the artificial bones and joints.

2 Nov 2016

Study identifies potential pathway to improve rate at which the body burns calories

Researchers say they have identified a potential pathway in our muscle tissue to improve the rate at which our bodies burn calories.

1 Nov 2016

Status uncertainty may be risk factor for acute diseases, study shows

Having strong social connections has many benefits, from splitting the tab on a pizza to having someone with whom to binge watch Netflix.

21 Oct 2016

Researchers identify genomic regions linked to ulcerative colitis in African-Americans

In the first genome-wide association study of genetic risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease in African Americans, a research team has identified two regions of the genome (loci) associated with ulcerative colitis only in people of African descent.

20 Oct 2016

Modulating immune response may help the brain to better cope with neurodegeneration

Study suggests zebrafish might teach us how to tackle Alzheimer's disease: Patients with Alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative diseases progressively loose neurons yet cannot build new ones.

19 Oct 2016

WSU researchers develop portable laboratory on smartphone to detect cancer biomarker

Washington State University researchers have developed a low-cost, portable laboratory on a smartphone that can analyze several samples at once to catch a cancer biomarker, producing lab quality results.

18 Oct 2016

Cold medication could suppress spread of bladder cancers

Hokkaido University researchers have discovered that a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug used for treating colds suppresses the spread of bladder cancers and reduces their chemoresistance in mice, raising hopes of a future cure for advanced bladder cancers.

17 Oct 2016

Can vitamin D reduce asthma attacks? An interview with Professor Adrian Martineau

In the past vitamin D was just thought to be important in regulating calcium homeostasis and bone health as vitamin D deficiency is best known for causing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

4 Oct 2016

Research identifies potential treatment target for chemoresistant cancer cells

A team of researchers has discovered that chemoresistant lung cancer cells suppress immune functions and strengthen resistance to chemotherapy by producing interleukin-34 (IL-34)—a type of cytokine.

3 Oct 2016

Ludwig researchers shed more light on key requirement for function of regulatory T cells

A Ludwig Cancer Research study published online September 5th in Nature Immunology illuminates a key requirement for the function of regulatory T cells—immune cells that play a critical role in many biological processes, from suppressing inflammation and deadly autoimmunity to helping tumors evade immune attack.

23 Sep 2016

Fat stem cells can lower risk of diabetes in healthy obese individuals

Obesity is responsible for the deaths of over three million people a year worldwide due to its associated diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

16 Sep 2016

Research findings may pave way for innovative treatments of multiple sclerosis

Researchers at the Research Center for Immunotherapy and the Focus Program Translational Neurosciences of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have identified a new mechanism that is involved in the development of autoimmune diseases.

14 Sep 2016

Research findings pave way to effective strategies for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis

A study shows that stimulating the production of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), one of the cytokines released by cells of the immune system, can be an effective strategy for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, considered one of the six most important parasitic diseases affecting humans.

25 Aug 2016

Higher nut intake linked to lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers

In a cross-sectional analysis published online today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers looked at the association between habitual nut consumption and inflammatory biomarkers among 5,013 men and women participating in two ongoing prospective cohort studies: the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

28 Jul 2016

Scientists discover promising approach to combat life-threatening bacterial infections without antibiotics

Patients suffering from liver cirrhosis often die of life-threatening bacterial infections. In these patients the immune cells are unable to eliminate the bacterial infections.

19 Jul 2016