Interleukin-6 (IL-6, interferon-beta 2, B-cell stimulatory factor 2, CTL differentiation factor, Hybridoma growth factor, BSF-2 Interferon beta-2, IFN-beta-2, CDF, IFNB2)

Interleukin-6 is a multi-functional cytokine that regulates immune responses, acute phase reactions and hematopoiesis, and it may play a central role in host defense mechanisms. IL-6 is usually not produced constitutively by normal cells, but its expression is readily induced by a variety of cytokines, lipopolysaccharide or viral infections.