Paradoxical effects of IL-6 in preventing or promoting cancer development
IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is involved both in immune response and in inflammation, hematopoiesis, bone metabolism, and embryonic development (1). IL-6 plays roles in chronic inflammation that are closely related to chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases (2).
Paradoxical effects of IL-6 in preventing or promoting cancer development
A recent review highlights the paradoxical effects of IL-6 in preventing or promoting cancer development (3). During exercise, IL-6 is released from working muscle fibers, enabling the communication between muscles and other organs to maintain energy balance and providing anti-inflammatory benefits (4). It has been shown that muscle-derived IL-6 improves insulin sensitivity in glycogen-storing tissues, hereby stimulating the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood, mobilizing cytotoxic immune cells, and decreasing DNA damage in cancer cells. These effects of IL-6 may help protect against cancer development and progression.
On the other hand, IL-6 is also induces inflammatory effects by activating the transcription of factors across various inflammatory pathways. It is secreted by immune cells at sites of inflammation and within the tumor environment. Continuous IL-6 signaling at sites of inflammation and within the tumor microenvironment leads to chronic low-grade inflammation and activates pathways that support tumor growth (2, 5).
Thus, although IL-6 mostly promotes tumor growth and progression, it can also exhibit dual effects depending on the context, that is particularly related to the tumor environment and stage. It can stimulate an anti-tumor immune response by activating immune cells, supporting immune surveillance and targeting pre-cancerous cells.
Features & Benefits of BIOMEDICA´s human IL-6 ELISA Assay (#BI-IL6)
- High sensitivity – measurable concentrations in serum AND plasma samples
- Reliable- rigorously validated following international quality guidelines
- Simple – ready to use color coded reagents (7 pre-diluted standards, 2 controls)
- Standardized – calibration using WHO standard
Human Interleukin–6 (IL-6) ELISA ASSAY CHARACTERISTICS
- Catalog Number: BI-IL6
- Method: Sandwich ELISA, HRP/TMB, 12×8-well detachable strips
- Sample type: Serum, plasma (EDTA, citrate, heparin), cell culture supernatatants, urine
- Sample volume: 100 µl / well
- Assay time: 2 h / / 1 h / 1 h / 30 min
- Sensitivity: LOD 0.28 pg/ml; LLOQ: 0.78 pg/ml (measurable concentrations in serum AND plasma samples)
- Standard range: 0 – 200 pg/ml (0 /3.12 / 6.25 / 12.5 / 25 / 25 / 50 /100 /200 pg/ml)
- Precision: In-between-run (n=3): ≤ 6 % CV, within-run (n=3): ≤ 7 % CV
- Specificity: The human IL-6 ELISA recognizes recombinant and endogenous (natural human IL-6)
- Validation data: precision, accuracy, dilution linearity, parallelism, values for healthy donors are shown here
- Use: research use only
Click here for more information on the human IL-6 ELISA
Literature
- Historical overview of the interleukin-6 family cytokine. Kang S, Narazaki M, Metwally H, Kishimoto T J Exp Med. 2020 May 4;217(5):e20190347. doi: 10.1084/jem.20190347. Erratum in: J Exp Med. 2020 May 4;217(5):jem.2019034704212020c. doi: 10.1084/jem.2019034704212020c. PMID: 32267936; PMCID: PMC7201933.
- IL-6 in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer. Hirano T. Int Immunol. 2021 Mar 1;33(3):127-148. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxaa078. PMID: 33337480; PMCID: PMC7799025.
- The exercise IL-6 enigma in cancer. Orange ST, Leslie J, Ross M, Mann DA, Wackerhage H.Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Nov;34(11):749-763. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.08.001. Epub 2023 Aug 24. PMID: 37633799.
- IL-6 signaling in acute exercise and chronic training: Potential consequences for health and athletic performance. Nash D, Hughes MG, Butcher L, Aicheler R, Smith P, Cullen T, Webb R. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2023 Jan;33(1):4-19. doi: 10.1111/sms.14241. Epub 2022 Oct 8. PMID: 36168944; PMCID: PMC10092579.
- Interleukin-6 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Dualistic Point of View. Nenu I, Toadere TM, Topor I, Țichindeleanu A, Bondor DA, Trella ȘE, Sparchez Z, Filip GA. Biomedicines. 2023 Sep 24;11(10):2623. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11102623. PMID: 37892997; PMCID: PMC10603956.