IL6
Interleukin 6
Gene Number: 3569
Location: 7p15.3
Key Functions: Inflammatory signaling, immune-cell activation, fever response and metabolic regulation
The IL6 gene produces interleukin-6, a signaling protein that helps coordinate the body’s response to infection and inflammation. IL-6 supports immune-cell activity and helps trigger fever during an immune response [R].
This report examines rs1800795 and rs1800796, two common regulatory variants studied for their effects on IL-6 production, metabolic health and responses to infection.
Explore your genotypes below, or visit TNF and inflammatory signaling and IL10 and inflammation regulation to understand other genetic influences on immune function.
SNP ID | Your Genotype | Alt Allele | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
rs1800795 | Analyze your DNA to see your genotype | G | Analyze your DNA to see a personalized result. |
rs1800796 | Analyze your DNA to see your genotype | C | Analyze your DNA to see a personalized result. |
rs1800795 — IL-6 Regulation and Metabolic Health
CC – Lower IL-6 production; slightly lower type 2 diabetes risk; the pooled estimate does not establish additional protection over CG [R, R].
CG – Intermediate/complex effect; slightly lower type 2 diabetes risk was reported when CG and CC carriers were analyzed together, compared with GG [R, R].
GG – Higher IL-6 production; a pooled diabetes analysis found modestly higher type 2 diabetes risk compared with CG/CC carriers [R, R].
Functional effect: Also called −174G>C, this variant lies in the IL6 promoter. The original experiments found lower activity from the C-containing promoter, including a weaker response to inflammatory stimulation. This describes gene regulation, not a measurement of your current inflammation [R].
rs1800796 — IL-6 Production and Infection Response
GG – Linked to lower tuberculosis risk in two Chinese study populations. Immune cells with this genotype also produced less IL-6 after stimulation with a tuberculosis bacterial protein [R].
CG – Higher stimulated IL-6 production than GG was observed in the same laboratory experiments [R].
CC – Higher stimulated IL-6 production than GG was observed in the same experiments; a stronger effect than CG was not established [R].
Functional effect: Also called −572G>C, this regulatory variant can influence IL-6 production under specific immune conditions. Its effects vary with the cells and stimulus studied [R].
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