Affiliations: Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Klaus Heese, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133–791, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 2 2220 0398; Fax: +82 2 2296 5943; E-mail: klaus@hanyang.ac.kr.
Abstract: In an aging society with dementia imposing an increasing threat to higher brain cognitive functions, understanding the molecular and cellular events of adult neurogenesis is imperative. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), along with its agonistic acting soluble receptor sIL-6R (the combined proteins are also known as Hyper-IL-6), is a promising cytokine that can support neurogenesis under conditions of neurodegeneration when neuron replacement is needed. In contrast to the previously reported gliogenic effects of activation of the IL-6–signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) axis, this review summarizes recent studies showing that IL-6 activation can be neurogenic and has potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.
