IL6
Interleukin 6
Gene Number: 3569
Location: 7p15.3
Key Functions: Inflammatory response mediation, immune system regulation, acute phase reaction induction, metabolic homeostasis
IL6 encodes interleukin-6, a pleiotropic cytokine integral to the coordination of immune and inflammatory responses. It is rapidly produced by immune cells, endothelial cells, and adipocytes in response to infections, tissue injury, and cellular stress, acting as a key signaling molecule in both innate and adaptive immunity.
IL6 activity is central to:
Immune system activation: Stimulates differentiation of B cells into antibody-producing plasma cells and modulates T cell proliferation and differentiation.
Acute phase response: Induces hepatic production of acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and serum amyloid A, which are essential for systemic inflammation and tissue repair.
Metabolic regulation: Influences energy homeostasis, glucose metabolism, and lipid mobilization, linking immune signaling to metabolic pathways.
Clinical relevance: While transient IL6 expression is critical for pathogen defense and tissue repair, chronic elevation is associated with autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), systemic inflammatory conditions, and metabolic dysregulation, including insulin resistance and obesity-related inflammation. Therapeutic modulation of IL6 signaling has become a key strategy in managing chronic inflammatory diseases and certain malignancies, reflecting its central role at the intersection of immunity, inflammation, and metabolism.
SNP ID | Your Genotype | Alternative Alleles | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
rs1800795 | No matching variant or no valid DNA data | G | No interpretation available |
rs1800796 | No matching variant or no valid DNA data | C | No interpretation available |
rs1800795 (–174 G>C)
CC – Lower IL-6 production; protective in some conditions (e.g., juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) but linked to higher risk of obesity-related metabolic disorders, aggressive prostate cancer, worse graft survival, and periodontitis in certain contexts (R).
CG – Intermediate/complex effect; IL-6 output and risk associations vary by ancestry, disease, and environment (R).
GG – Higher IL-6 production; associated with type-2 diabetes (OR ~1.5), new-onset diabetes after transplant, Kaposi’s sarcoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma progression, higher mortality after ACS, worse stroke outcomes, gastric cancer, and growth retardation in Crohn’s disease children (R).
Functional effect: The G allele upregulates IL-6 promoter activity, elevating pro-inflammatory signaling and increasing risk for multiple inflammatory and metabolic disorders, while the C allele reduces IL-6 expression but also shows disease-specific risks (e.g., metabolic syndrome, graft survival, Alzheimer’s).
rs1800796 (–572 G>C)
GG – Common baseline; typically associated with lower IL-6 production, but when present across promoter haplotypes, G alleles may increase osteoarthritis risk (R).
CG – Intermediate effect; IL-6 levels and disease risk vary by ancestry and clinical context (R).
CC – Slightly increased risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm; reported links to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer prognosis, and adverse transplant outcomes (R).
Functional effect: The C allele is a risk factor in some diseases (e.g., AAA, coronary artery disease, osteoporosis), whereas the G allele is protective in tuberculosis and may reduce AD risk in certain populations—making effects highly context- and ethnicity-dependent.
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