interleukin-6

Overview

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a critical role in the immune response, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. It is produced by various cell types, including T cells, B cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts, and is involved in the regulation of immune responses, acute phase reactions, and the differentiation of immune cells. IL-6 exerts its effects primarily through the activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway, particularly STAT3, which mediates its pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Dysregulation of IL-6 has been implicated in various pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory disorders, and cancer, making it a significant target for therapeutic interventions.

Focus of Latest Publications

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of IL-6 in various clinical contexts and its potential as a therapeutic target. For instance, a phase II trial combining pembrolizumab with paclitaxel and carboplatin in melanoma patients found that lower baseline levels of IL-6 were associated with higher survival rates (PMID: 41732954). This suggests that IL-6 may serve as a prognostic biomarker in cancer immunotherapy.

In the context of diabetic wound healing, a study demonstrated that the topical delivery of miR-497 using cationized gelatin/sodium alginate coacervates significantly suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, including IL-6, thereby promoting cell migration and healing (PMID: 41934393). Similarly, another investigation into the effects of artificial mitochondria on osteoarthritis revealed that treatment led to the suppression of inflammatory pathways, including IL-6, while enhancing extracellular matrix biosynthesis (PMID: 41816316).

IL-6 has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. For example, in a study on peripartum cardiomyopathy, elevated levels of IL-6 were associated with left ventricular dysfunction and poor prognosis (PMID: 41905945). Additionally, research on the modulation of inflammatory responses in macrophages indicated that certain compounds could significantly downregulate IL-6 expression in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation (PMID: 42178365).

Moreover, IL-6 has been identified as a core target in network pharmacology studies investigating the mechanisms of various therapies, including those for ulcerative colitis and diabetic nephropathy (PMID: 42089391, 42009593). The cytokine's involvement in inflammatory processes has also been noted in studies examining the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and other anti-inflammatory treatments (PMID: 42045798).

Key Publications

Jun Integrating machine learning and WGCNA to identify core candidate genes and decipher immune-related molecular networks in TcdA/TcdB-associated CDI. (Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 2026, PMID 42230843): "Machine learning algorithms further narrowed these to nine core genes: Areg, Ptgs2, Cd40, Tlr7, Aif1, Cxcl10, Il6, Cybb, and Nos2."
Jun Superior In Vivo Efficacy of Fermented Over Aqueous Astragalus membranaceus in Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Pharmacological Evaluation and Mechanistic Study. (Biomedical chromatography : BMC, 2026, PMID 42009593): "Chemical profiling identified 14 FA bioactive components; network pharmacology revealed core targets (STAT3, IL6, and TGFB1) and key pathways (AGE-RAGE, HIF-1, and FoxO)."
Jun Integrated Serum Pharmacochemistry, Metabolomics, and Network Pharmacology Uncover Potential Active Components and Mechanisms of Shenling Baizhu Powder in Treating Ulcerative Colitis With Spleen Deficiency and Dampness Stagnation. (Biomedical chromatography : BMC, 2026, PMID 42089391): "...six core targets (BCL2, NFKB1, TNF, IL6, AKT1, CASP3) were obtained using serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology."
May Tenascin-C and Fibrosis as Prognostic Predictors of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy　- A Histopathological Study. (Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society, 2026, PMID 41905945): "This study evaluated the pathological findings of PPCM, with a particular focus on inflammatory factors such as tenascin-C (TNC) and interleukin-6, which may predict left ventricular dysfunction and the prognosis of PPCM."
May Attenuation of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in J774A.1 macrophages by phenylpropanoids and ursane triterpenes from Lavandula coronopifolia Poir. (Scientific reports, 2026, PMID 42178365): "Furthermore, qPCR revealed that 2, 3 and 6 significantly downregulated the expression levels of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as compared to LPS-stimulated J774A.1 cells."
May A co-amorphous salt of ursodeoxycholic acid and matrine incorporated into dissolving microneedles for combined antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment of acne vulgaris. (International journal of pharmaceutics, 2026, PMID 42025655): "...and more effectively reduced the expression of IL1B, IL6, CXCL8, and TNF in stimulated HaCaT cells, accompanied by reduced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation."
May Exploring the mechanism of plastic additives on reproductive disorders based on network toxicology and molecular docking. (Journal of environmental science and health. Part. B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes, 2026, PMID 42132418): "Our analysis identified disease-specific hub genes, ESR1 and MMP9 for PCOS, CTNNB1 and BCL2 for RPL, and IL6 and NFKB1 for endometriosis..."
May Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Real-Time Detection of Immune System Early Activation during Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab Treatment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. (ACS applied materials & interfaces, 2026, PMID 42054571): "A strong correlation between the OECT electrical response, standard cell growth, death assays, and IL6 levels is observed, which is confirmed for cocultures involving PBMCs from healthy controls and patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs (namely, positive and negative controls, respectively)."
May Tailoring the structure of MIL-101(Fe) for co-delivery of anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents. (Journal of colloid and interface science, 2026, PMID 41619422): "Biological evaluation demonstrated that all systems suppressed the synthesis of inflammatory markers, including prostaglandins and IL-6."
May L-Alaninium borneol ester flurbiprofenate: a dual-function ionic carrier for enhanced solubility and transdermal delivery. (European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, 2026, PMID 41734874): "Furthermore, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes, the derivative reduced interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner, surpassing the anti-inflammatory effects of flurbiprofen."

Show 34 more publications

May Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Improve Neurological Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Moderate-to-Severe Cerebral Palsy. (Stem cell reviews and reports, 2026, PMID 41729433): "The treatment attenuated key pathological processes involving sustained neuroinflammatory responses (reduced ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6) while elevating brain-derived neurotrophic factor."
May Selenium nanoparticles attenuate Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced mastitis via the suppression of ferroptosis and antioxidant restoration in goats. (Journal of dairy science, 2026, PMID 41780848): "Furthermore, it restored anti-inflammatory IL-10 mRNA expression and suppressed proinflammatory IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA levels."
May Dissolving microneedles enable effective transdermal delivery of vitamin B12 and reduce endothelial inflammation. (Journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2026, PMID 41794175): "...significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced IL-6 expression and ROS production in EA.hy926 cells."
May Bovine colostrum exosomes mediate anti-inflammatory responses in macrophages via the miR-30a-5p/SOX4 axis. (Journal of dairy science, 2026, PMID 41819176): "It significantly reduced the expression of key proinflammatory cytokines, namely TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as IL-10, compared with 24h-Exo."
May Exosomal Rspondin3 serves as a master regulator of immunometabolic repair in sepsis: synergistic activation of macrophage M2 polarization and endothelial BMP10 signaling. (International immunopharmacology, 2026, PMID 41839470): "In vivo, EPC-Exo administration attenuated pulmonary inflammation, reduced TNF-α/IL-6, increased IL-10/VE-cadherin expression, and restored lung histology-effects reversed by Rspo3 blockade."
May Development of injectable ibuprofen and resveratrol co-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based hydrogels for sustained delivery in osteoarthritis management. (Journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2026, PMID 41839392): "Biochemical assays showed a 50-60% reduction in TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 levels, restoration of IL‐10, and a 40-55% decrease in malondialdehyde and nitrite content."
May 27-hydroxycholesterol is a regulatory oxysterol in adipocytes. (Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular and cell biology of lipids, 2026, PMID 41794211): "which promote proinflammatory interleukin-6 secretion and lipogenesis, respectively."
May Inflammatory biomarkers as prognostic tools for diabetic retinopathy progression: a prospective study. (Diabetes research and clinical practice, 2026, PMID 41794136): "specifically hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and CD163, for predicting diabetic retinopathy (DR) in adults with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes."
May Interleukin-6 and Oncostatin M Levels in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes and Its Relationship With Glycemic Indices. (Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism, 2026, PMID 41917697): "inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and oncostatin M (OSM) play key roles."
May Melatonin and Quercetin Co-Treatment Attenuates Hepatic Damage in Diabetic Rats by Mitigating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. (Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology, 2026, PMID 42021540): "Weight, histology, immunohistochemistry (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10), biochemistry (glycemia, AST, and ALT), morphometry, and oxidative stress were evaluated."
May Obesity and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Gene Expression Patterns Within Cervical Cancer Progression. (In vivo (Athens, Greece), 2026, PMID 42049436): "This study aimed to evaluate the gene expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and VEGF during CC progression in patients across different weight categories: normal weight, overweight, and obese."
May Modulation of Inflammatory Indices by Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Hemodialysis: A Clinical Trial Approach. (Clinical and translational science, 2026, PMID 42045798): "Similarly, IL-6 levels increased from 17.84±14.08 to 81.82±66.22 pg/mL in the intervention group and from 14.96±18.41 to 56.73±115.45 pg/mL in the control group (p=0.53)."
May Cross-talk between inflammation and coagulation in severe COVID-19: Association of leptin and classical pro-inflammatory markers with coagulation disorders in a single-center observational cohort study. (Medicine, 2026, PMID 42065184): "We found statistically significant associations between blood levels of various biomarkers including leptin, IL-6, ferritin, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and lactate dehydrogenase and the presence of coagulopathy, as indicated by the Pearson Chi-Square and Likelihood Ratio tests."
May HBO-PC Reprograms Neuroimmune Metabolism Through Disruption of the LRG1-HIF-1α-IL-6-STAT3 Amplification Loop Attenuates Pyroptosis and Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. (CNS neuroscience & therapeutics, 2026, PMID 42053428): "Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO-PC) exhibits neuroprotective effects, but its mechanisms remain unclear."
May Silibinin meglumine ameliorates hepatic encephalopathy via inhibiting UCP2-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. (Chinese journal of natural medicines, 2026, PMID 42062034): "SM also attenuated inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both plasma and brain tissue."
May Distinct structural features of neutral and acidic flaxseed gum polysaccharides confer complementary anti-hyperuricemic effects via multi-dimensional regulation of urate metabolism. (International journal of biological macromolecules, 2026, PMID 41937019): "In HUA mice, oral administration of FG significantly decreased serum urate levels, alleviating renal tubular dilation, glomerular atrophy, and systemic inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α)."
May Programmable metal-nucleic acid biomineralized hydrogel for infected wound healing via mitochondrial regulation. (Acta biomaterialia, 2026, PMID 41941975): "Concurrently, siTNF-α silences TNF-α expression in macrophages, thereby reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β."
May Lipid emulsion modulates myogenic and collagen-related gene expression in skeletal muscle of preterm fetal sheep. (Experimental physiology, 2026, PMID 41955312): "Similarly, genes related to inflammation, such as Tnfa (tumour necrosis factor α), Il-6 (interleukin 6), Tlr4 (Toll-like receptor 4) and Tlr2 (Toll-like receptor 2), were unaffected."
May Protective effects of Crataegus monogyna against cisplatin-induced liver and kidney toxicity in rats. (Drug and chemical toxicology, 2026, PMID 42025193): "As demonstrated by our findings, cisplatin significantly increased AST, ALT, urea, creatinine, TNF-α, IL-6, and TOS levels while reducing TAS."
Apr Transcriptomics and Experiments Verified that Astaxanthin Reduces the Apoptosis of Nerve Cells in Ischemic Stroke by Inhibiting the Toll-like Receptor Signaling Pathway. (Molecular neurobiology, 2026, PMID 42050264): "Also, ATX has reduced inflammation and apoptosis-related proteins such as TLR4, MyD88, NFκB, IL-1β, IL-6, Cyt C, and Caspase-3."
Apr Inhibition of the Microglial cGAS-STING Pathway Improves Neurological Deficits and Long-Term Hydrocephalus Symptoms in Mice with Intraventricular Hemorrhage. (Molecular neurobiology, 2026, PMID 42050115): "Pharmacological inhibition or conditional knockout of cGAS attenuated global neuroinflammation, suppressed microglial activation, and reduced both pyroptosis-dependent (IL-1β and IL-18) and nonpyroptosis-dependent (TNF-α, IFN-β, and IL-6) cytokine release."
Apr Intestinal oxidative stress mitigation and transepithelial anti-inflammatory bioactivity mediated by EtOH-modified supercritical-CO2 coffee pulp extract. (Food & function, 2026, PMID 41891237): "...demonstrated transepithelial anti-inflammatory effects, decreasing TNF-α, IL-6, CCL2, and IL-1α levels by 9.9%, 24.7%, 34.3%, and 17.0%, respectively, in comparison to the LPS-stimulated control group."
Apr Hyaluronan-cholesterol core-shell glycerosomes: innovative nanocarriers for mitigating smoke-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs. (International journal of pharmaceutics, 2026, PMID 41833848): "(pro-inflammatory IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly reduced to even below control levels)."
Apr Immuno-redox modulator loaded trehalosomal hydrogel for atopic dermatitis: formulation, optimization using D-optimal mixture design, in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation. (International journal of pharmaceutics, 2026, PMID 41864443): "In-vivo evaluation in a dinitrochlorobenzene-induced AD mouse model confirmed that Opt-THL-Hgel acts as a potent immuno-redox modulator, significantly reducing SCORAD indices and ear thickness, while restoring cutaneous antioxidant defenses (SOD, GPx, GSH) and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) compared with the AD model group (p < 0.05)."
Apr A triamcinolone acetonide palmitate nanoemulsion eye drop delivered by iontophoresis for the management of posterior uveitis. (International journal of pharmaceutics, 2026, PMID 41871672): "It significantly downregulated inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and IL-17, and alleviated uveitis by suppressing the activation of retinal macroglia (GFAP) and microglia (IBA-1)."
Apr Hepatocyte-derived LRG1 primes the liver for metastasis and impairs immunotherapy. (Cellular & molecular immunology, 2026, PMID 41963620): "Hepatic LRG1 induced by tumor-associated inflammation via IL-6/STAT3 signaling promotes liver metastasis through the formation of TGFBR/PI3K/AKT axis-driven neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)."
Apr The potential of leritrelvir repositioning for the treatment of coxsackievirus B4 and common enterovirus infections. (Antiviral research, 2026, PMID 41707713): "Additionally, leritrelvir effectively suppressed CVB4-induced elevation of interleukin-6."
Apr Opportunities and challenges for cancer immunotherapy based on antigen cross-presentation. (Annals of medicine, 2026, PMID 41758201): "...by producing immunosuppressive factors such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10, and so on..."
Apr A mixed inflammatory peripheral signature defines clinical outcomes in a phase II trial combining pembrolizumab with paclitaxel and carboplatin in melanoma. (Oncoimmunology, 2026, PMID 41732954): "Survival rate was higher for patients with lower baseline of IL-6, IL-8, and CD4+CD39+ T cells."
Apr Translational studies of chronic supplementation with a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant to improve physical function with ageing. (The Journal of physiology, 2026, PMID 41733122): "The effects of MitoQ in old mice were accompanied by lower levels of skeletal muscle mitochondria-specific superoxide production and markers of mitoROS-related oxidative stress (i.e. phosphorylated SHC adaptor protein 1, isoform p66) and inflammation (i.e. interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma)."
Apr Targeting VDAC1-dependent mtDNA release attenuates fibroblast innate immune activation and vitiligo pathogenesis. (International immunopharmacology, 2026, PMID 41722540): "The released mtDNA activated the cGAS-STING pathway and the NLRP3 inflammasome, driving the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, ICAM-1, and Occludin-a pattern consistent with a senescence-associated secretory phenotype."
Apr Artificial mitochondria ameliorates osteoarthritis through restoring cellular energy metabolism homeostasis. (Bioactive materials, 2026, PMID 41816316): "Transcriptomic analysis revealed CAMs upregulated chondrogenic markers (COL2A1, ACAN, SOX9) and suppressed inflammatory pathways (MMP3, IL6), while enhancing extracellular matrix biosynthesis."
Apr Systemic Cytokine Alterations in Periodontitis Independent of Comorbidities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (Aging and disease, 2026, PMID 41910651): "analyses showed significantly (P<0.05) higher levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2); interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-17A and IL-18; leptin; matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8), myeloperoxidase (MPO); receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL); and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α)."
Apr Topical delivery of Mir-497 using cationized gelatin/sodium alginate coacervates for diabetic wound healing. (Drug delivery, 2026, PMID 41934393): "miR-497@CG/SA significantly promoted cell migration (~1.7-fold increase) and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β)."