How to utilize IL-6 recombinant protein to deeply analyze its biological functions and clinical applications?

1. What is Interleukin-6 (IL-6)? What are its basic structure and sources?

Interleukin-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a molecular weight of approximately 19-28 kDa, composed of 184 amino acids. As a core member of the interleukin family, it plays a central role in immune regulation and inflammatory responses. Its structure consists of four α-helices and primarily exists as a monomer. IL-6 can be produced by various cells, including fibroblasts, monocytes/macrophages, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and various tumor cells. As an early response factor to injury and infection, IL-6 is indispensable in initiating, amplifying, and regulating both innate and adaptive immune responses.

2. What are the core biological functions of IL-6?

IL-6 has extremely broad functions, primarily through classical signaling (membrane receptor-mediated) and trans-signaling (soluble receptor-mediated) pathways, affecting the immune system and various non-immune tissue cells:

1. Regulation of acute-phase response: IL-6 is a key inducer of acute-phase proteins (such as C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, and heparin) synthesized by the liver, rapidly initiating systemic defense responses after infection or tissue injury.

2. Regulation of immune cell differentiation and activation:

- Effects on B cells: Promotes B cell proliferation, differentiation into plasma cells, and stimulates antibody production (especially IgG and IgA).

- Effects on T cells: As a T cell activation factor, it promotes the maturation and activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and assists naive CD4⁺ T cells in differentiating into effector subsets such as Th17.

3. Influence on hematopoiesis and angiogenesis: Synergizes with other cytokines to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. It also promotes the activation of vascular endothelial cells and participates in angiogenesis.

4. Role in metabolism and nervous system regulation: IL-6 has hormone-like properties, influencing lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and energy balance, and is associated with neuroendocrine regulation and behavioral changes.

3. Why is IL-6 an important marker for inflammation and disease?

The dynamic changes of IL-6 in various physiological and pathological processes make it a highly valuable biomarker:

1. Early warning value: In infections or inflammatory responses, serum IL-6 levels rise earlier than CRP and procalcitonin, typically peaking within 2 hours after stimulation, providing a sensitive indicator for early detection of critical conditions such as sepsis, postoperative infections, and neonatal sepsis.

2. Assessment of disease severity and prognosis: Serum IL-6 levels are closely related to the severity of infection and patient prognosis. Persistently high levels (e.g., >1000 pg/mL) often indicate poor prognosis. Dynamic monitoring of its changes helps evaluate treatment efficacy and disease outcomes.

3. Auxiliary differential diagnosis: Although its specificity is relatively limited (it can also be elevated in non-infectious inflammation such as surgical trauma or autoimmune diseases), combined with other indicators like CRP and PCT, the pattern of IL-6 level changes can help distinguish infection types (e.g., bacterial infection characteristics) or differentiate between rheumatic disease activity and concurrent infections.

4. In which diseases does IL-6 play a key role in pathogenesis?

Abnormal expression and signaling dysregulation of IL-6 are central pathological mechanisms in various diseases:

1. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: In rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Castleman disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other diseases, excessive IL-6 production drives chronic inflammation, autoantibody production, and tissue damage. Monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-6 or its receptors (e.g., tocilizumab) have become important therapeutic tools.

2. Cancer: IL-6 is highly expressed in various hematological malignancies (e.g., multiple myeloma) and solid tumors, promoting tumor cell proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, inducing angiogenesis, and suppressing anti-tumor immunity, creating a microenvironment favorable for tumor growth and metastasis.

3. Sepsis and cytokine storm: In severe systemic infections or cytokine release syndromes induced by CAR-T therapy, IL-6 is a core pro-inflammatory factor, with its dramatic elevation highly correlated with organ failure and mortality risk.

4. Metabolic and neurological diseases: IL-6 is associated with insulin resistance and the development of atherosclerosis. It also shows abnormal elevation in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, participating in neuroinflammatory processes.

5. What is the value of IL-6 recombinant protein in research and applications?

High-quality recombinant IL-6 protein is an indispensable tool in basic research and drug development, with value reflected in multiple aspects:

1. Functional research and signaling pathway analysis: Using recombinant IL-6 protein to stimulate various target cells (e.g., hepatocytes, immune cells, tumor cells) can precisely simulate its biological effects in vivo, studying its impact on cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, gene expression, and protein secretion, and mapping detailed downstream signaling pathways (e.g., JAK/STAT, MAPK, PI3K/Akt pathways).

2. Drug screening and potency evaluation: In developing inhibitors targeting the IL-6 pathway (e.g., small molecules, neutralizing antibodies), recombinant IL-6 protein serves as a standard stimulus and key reference for in vitro high-throughput screening and potency validation (e.g., reporter gene assays, cell proliferation inhibition assays).

3. Diagnostic reagent development and calibration: Recombinant IL-6 protein, as a highly purified antigen standard, is a core material for developing immunological detection methods (e.g., ELISA, chemiluminescence, lateral flow strips), used to establish standard curves, calibrate detection systems, and ensure consistency and comparability of results across different reagent batches.

6. Which manufacturers provide IL-6 recombinant protein?

Hangzhou Start Biotech Co., Ltd. independently developed "Rat Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Protein (IL-6 Protein, Rat)" (Catalog No.: UA040507), a cytokine product with high biological activity, high purity, and excellent stability. This product is produced recombinantly using a mammalian expression system, strictly mimicking the post-translational modifications and maturation process of natural rat IL-6 protein. Its biological activity has been rigorously validated, making it a core tool in basic life science research and drug development, including inflammation and immune regulation, hematopoietic support, acute-phase response, and tissue repair.

Professional technical support: We provide detailed product quality analysis reports (CoA), including concentration, purity, SDS-PAGE and SEC-HPLC profiles, endotoxin testing, and activity assay data. Our technical team offers expert application consultation and experimental protocol recommendations, fully supporting your research progress in immunology, inflammatory diseases, and new drug development.

Hangzhou Start Biotech Co., Ltd. is committed to providing high-quality, high-value recombinant proteins and key reagents for global life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry. For more information about "Rat Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Protein" (Catalog No. UA040507), technical data, or sample testing requests, please feel free to contact us.

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