Table 1.
Cellular origin and biological activities of IL-6 [reviewed in 3, 4]
| Synonyms | Cells that produce IL-6 | Biological activities |
|---|---|---|
| 26-kDa protein | monocytes/macrophages | B cells: induction of immunoglobulin synthesis and differentiation |
| B cell differentiation factor (BCDF) | Kupffer cells | plasma cells: proliferation |
| B cell stimulatory factor-2 (BSF-2) | fibroblasts | hepatocytes: induction of acute phase proteins |
| Hepatocyte stimulating factor (HSF) | epithelial cells | T cells: growth and differentiation |
| Hybridoma growth factor (HGF) | endothelial cells | natural killer cells: augments activity |
| Interferon beta-2 (IFN-β2) | T and B cells | megakaryocytes: maturation |
| Cytotoxic T cell differentiation factor (CDF) | neutrophils | neuronal cells: adrenocorticotropic hormone production |
| T cell-replacing factor (TRF) | chondrocytes | mesangial cells and keratinocytes: proliferation |
| Macrophage-granulocyte inducer type 2 (MGI-2) | synoviocytes | bone metabolism: activation of osteoclasts |
| Thrombopoietin | adipocytes | endothelial cells: chemokine production |
| osteoblasts | chondrocytes: decreases collagen production | |
| keratinocytes | ||
| mesangial cells | ||
| smooth muscle cells | ||
| some tumor cells |