Interleukin 6 (IL6) is a potent pleiotropic cytokine that regulates cell growth and differentiation and plays an important role in immune response.

In melanocytes IL6R gene expression may be regulated by MITF.

Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

Interleukin-6 receptor has been shown to interact with Interleukin 6[7][8][9] and ciliary neurotrophic factor.

[8][10] This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.