interleukin-6

A cytokine derived from macrophages and endothelial cells that increases synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulins by B lymphocytes; also induces acute phase proteins. In hepatocytes, it induces acute-phase reactants. SYN: B cell stimulatory factor 2, interferon-β2.

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interleukin-6 -'siks n an interleukin that is produced by various cells (as macrophages, fibroblasts, T cells, and tumor cells) and that acts as a pyrogen, induces maturation of B cells and growth of myeloma cells, activates and induces proliferation of T cells, and stimulates synthesis of plasma proteins (as fibrinogen) abbr. IL-6

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(IL-6) a lymphokine produced by antigen- or mitogen-activated T cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and adipose and other cells that serves as a differentiation factor for B cells and thymocytes and stimulates immunoglobulin production by B cells; it also induces hepatocytes to synthesize various plasma proteins involved in the acute phase response and is a cofactor in initiation of the cell cycle in primitive hematopoietic cells in vitro.