Interleukin-6 in atherosclerosis: atherogenic or atheroprotective?

Figures & data

Table 1. Contrasting pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties of IL-6.

Pro-inflammatory	Anti-inflammatory
Inhibition of Treg differentiation	Inhibition of LPS-induced TNF-α production
Neutrophil and macrophage chemotaxis	Inhibition of IL-1 production
Activation of endothelial cells	Induction of IL-1 receptor antagonist
Induction of chemokine and adhesion molecule production	Induction of soluble TNF receptor Type 1 (p55)
Induction of T-cell proliferation and cytotoxic T-cell differentiation
Promotes VEGF production
Induction of the acute phase response

Abbreviations: IL, interleukin; Treg, T regulatory cells; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

Figure 1. IL-6 classic and trans-signalling. IL-6 classic-signalling occurs through IL-6R present on the cell membrane.

Notes: In trans-signalling, cells that do not express IL-6R can respond to IL-6 via naturally occurring soluble IL-6R. Abbreviations: ADAM17, A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 17; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; gp130, glycoprotein 130; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1; IL, interleukin; IL-6R, IL-6 receptor; JAK-STAT, janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription; sIL-6R, soluble IL-6 receptor; Th-2, T helper cell 2; VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1.