IL6, Official Symbol IL6provided by HGNC Official Full Name interleukin 6provided by HGNC Primary source HGNC:HGNC:6018 See related Ensembl:ENSG00000136244 MIM:147620; AllianceGenome:HGNC:6018 Gene type protein coding RefSeq status REVIEWED Organism Homo sapiens Lineage Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo Also known as CDF; HGF; HSF; BSF2; IL-6; BSF-2; IFNB2; IFN-beta-2 Summary This gene encodes a cytokine that functions in inflammation and the maturation of B cells. In addition, the encoded protein has been shown to be an endogenous pyrogen capable of inducing fever in people with autoimmune diseases or infections. The protein is primarily produced at sites of acute and chronic inflammation, where it is secreted into the serum and induces a transcriptional inflammatory response through interleukin 6 receptor, alpha. The functioning of this gene is implicated in a wide variety of inflammation-associated disease states, including suspectibility to diabetes mellitus and systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Elevated levels of the encoded protein have been found in virus infections, including COVID-19 (disease caused by SARS-CoV-2). [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2020] Annotation information Note: This gene has been reviewed for its involvement in coronavirus biology, and is relevant for COVID-19 prognosis. Expression Broad expression in urinary bladder (RPKM 9.7), gall bladder (RPKM 7.1) and 14 other tissues See more Orthologs mouse all