IL6 (Interleukin 6) is both an anti-inflammatory myokine and a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in inflammation, the immune response and body temperature control. It functions in the inflammatory response to microbial pathogens in the innate immune system. IL6 is involved in regulating fever and it can cross the blood-brain barrier to change the temperature setpoint by activating PGE2 synthesis in the hypothalamus. It is also involved in osteoclast formation after being secreted by osteoblasts, and it stimulates the production of neutrophils in bone marrow. It may be positively involved in the consolidation and processing of emotional memories during sleep, and is also thought to be involved in psychological stress. In cancer and diseases, it promotes inflammatory and auto-immune processes in Alzheimer’s, arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, depression and in various cancers. In immunohistochemistry, IL6 has variable secretory positivity in tissues throughout the body. References: Neuroscience Letters. 179 (1–2): 53–6, PMID: 7845624; FASEB Journal. 23 (10): 3629–36, PMID: 19546306; Psychosomatic Medicine. 61 (2): 175–80, PMID: 10204970; Diabetes. 54 Suppl 2: S114–24, PMID: 16306329; Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews. 12 (1): 33–40, PMID: 11312117; Biological Psychiatry. 67 (5): 446–57, PMID: 20015486;