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.

Possible molecular link between circadian rhythm disturbances and increased inflammatory response

Scientists have known for some time that throwing off the body's circadian rhythm can negatively affect body chemistry. In fact, workers whose sleep-wake cycles are disrupted by night shifts are more susceptible to chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cancer.

2 Aug 2012

Researchers develop bioactive coating that actively suppresses brain's immune response

Brain-computer interfaces are at the cutting edge for treatment of neurological and psychological disorder, including Parkinson's, epilepsy, and depression. Among the most promising advance is deep brain stimulation (DBS) - a method in which a silicon chip implanted under the skin ejects high frequency currents that are transferred to the brain through implanted electrodes that transmit and receive the signals.

1 Aug 2012

Gluconeogenesis severely compromised in HCC by IL6-Stat3-mediated activation of miR-23a

As liver cancer develops, tumor cells lose the ability to produce and release glucose into the bloodstream, a key function of healthy liver cells for maintaining needed blood-sugar levels.

31 Jul 2012

OX40 molecule responsible for airway inflammation in the lungs

A research team led by Xian Chang Li, MD, PhD, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) Transplantation Research Center, has shed light on how a population of lymphocytes, called CD4+ T cells, mature into various subsets of adult T helper cells.

30 Jul 2012

Long-term use of reverse geometry lenses may induce inflammatory response

Continuous long-term overnight use of reverse geometry lenses results in a significantly increased presence of inflammatory mediators compared with wearing 30-night silicone-hydrogel contact lenses or wearing no lenses, show study results.

27 Jul 2012

Anakinra can dramatically limit amount of brain damage in stroke patients

Scientists led by the President of The University of Manchester have demonstrated a drug which can dramatically limit the amount of brain damage in stroke patients.

From The University of Manchester 27 Jul 2012

High-dose IL-2 still the most effective treatment for patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma

Administering high-doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been the preferred treatment for patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma. An article published in the current issue of Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., explores whether or not this regimen is still the most effective.

26 Jul 2012

Researchers discover reason why breast cancer cells become drug resistant

Breast cancer treatments such as Herceptin that target a marker called HER2 have dramatically improved outcomes for women with this type of cancer. But nearly half of these cancers are resistant to Herceptin from the start and almost all of them will eventually become resistant.

21 Jul 2012

Short-term infection with intestinal worms may provide long-term protection against TID

Short-term infection with intestinal worms may provide long-term protection against type I diabetes (TID), suggests a study conducted by William Gause, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School.

20 Jul 2012

Limewater combination therapy can reduce root canal endotoxins

Treating root canals with a combination of chlorhexidine gel and calcium hydroxide results in significant reduction of endotoxins and neutralization of cytotoxic effects compared with the gel plus polymyxin B or saline, report Brazilian researchers.

17 Jul 2012

Identification of IL-9 antitumor activity in melanoma

High expression of interleukin -9 in immune cells inhibits growth of melanoma, show study findings suggesting a role for this T-cell cytokine in tumor suppression.

13 Jul 2012

Altered immune function in relatives of schizophrenia patients

Schizophrenia patients and their unaffected first-degree relatives exhibit immune system alterations compared with mentally healthy individuals, researchers report.

12 Jul 2012

OncoSec establishes UCSF as second enrolling site for OMS-I110 Phase II Merkel cell carcinoma trial

OncoSec Medical Inc., a company developing the advanced-stage OncoSec Medical System (OMS) ElectroOncology therapies to treat solid tumors, announces it has established the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) as the second enrolling site for its Phase II Merkel cell carcinoma clinical trial (OMS-I110).

11 Jul 2012

Researchers discover unknown mechanism that promotes growth and spread of cancer

Tiny vesicles released by tumors cells are taken up by healthy immune cells, causing the immune cells to discharge chemicals that foster cancer-cell growth and spread, according to a study by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) and at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.

11 Jul 2012

Biomarkers predict benefit of targeted therapy in metastatic renal-cell cancer

In metastatic renal-cell cancer, the level of cytokines and angiogenic factors identify those patients with an aggressive disease course who derive the greatest benefit from treatment with the molecular-targeted therapy pazopanib, a retrospective analysis of clinical trials shows.

10 Jul 2012

Altered immune function in relatives of schizophrenia patients

Schizophrenia patients and their unaffected first-degree relatives exhibit immune system alterations compared with mentally healthy individuals, researchers report.

10 Jul 2012

Ozone concerns aired over effect on cardiac biomarkers

Exposure to ozone for as little as 2 hours could induce physiologic changes associated with cardiovascular disease, say US researchers.

10 Jul 2012

Specific cytokine levels altered in BD patients

Levels of certain cytokines differ between bipolar disorder patients and mentally healthy individuals, as well as between manic and euthymic patients with the mood disorder, results from a systematic review and meta-analysis show.

10 Jul 2012

High expression of interleukin-9 in immune cells inhibits melanoma growth

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have made a groundbreaking discovery that will shape the future of melanoma therapy. The team, led by Thomas S. Kupper, MD, chair of the BWH Department of Dermatology, and Rahul Purwar, PhD, found that high expression of a cell-signaling molecule, known as interleukin-9, in immune cells inhibits melanoma growth.

9 Jul 2012

Early childhood adversity linked with depression and inflammation

When a person injures their knee, it becomes inflamed. When a person has a cold, their throat becomes inflamed. This type of inflammation is the body's natural and protective response to injury. Interestingly, there is growing evidence that a similar process happens when a person experiences psychological trauma. Unfortunately, this type of inflammation can be destructive.

4 Jul 2012