IL-6 exerts its pleiotropic activity by activation of gp130 through its binding to transmembrane or soluble IL-6 receptor. IL-6 initiates the IL-6 signaling pathway through binding to transmembrane or soluble IL-6 receptor. The resultant complex then induces homodimerization of gp130, which leads to activation of a signaling system. Transcriptional factors including STAT3 activate various gene expressions, resulting in cell differentiation or proliferation. JAKs: Janus kinases; STAT3: signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; SHP-2: SH2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2; PI3K: phosphoinositol-3 kinase; Grb2, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2; ERK: extracellular signal-regulated kinase; MAPK: mitogen activated protein kinase; Akt: protein kinase B; TGF-β: transforming growth factor beta; CRP: C-reactive protein; SAA: serum amyloid A; MMPs: matrix metalloproteinases.
