Human IL6 mRNA encodes the human interleukin 6 (IL6) protein, a cytokine that functions in inflammation and the maturation of B cells. IL6 has been shown to be an endogenous pyrogen capable of inducing fever in people with autoimmune diseases or infections. The functioning of this gene is implicated in a wide variety of inflammation-associated disease states, including suspectibility to diabetes mellitus and systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
