Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Exercise

IL-6 (Interleukin-6) is a protein that acts both as a pro-inflammatory cytokine and as an anti-inflammatory myokine (1). During physical activity, IL-6 is released from muscle fibers into the bloodstream where it has different functions:

–Energy Balance: IL-6 is a regulator of energy metabolism. It promotes the breakdown of fats and stimulates glucose production, thus ensuring that muscles have a constant energy supply during prolonged exercise.

–Anti-inflammatory effects: Although IL-6 is an immunoregulatory molecule that promotes inflammation in certain contexts, IL-6 also has anti-inflammatory properties during exercise. It stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing overall inflammation in the body.

–Muscle repair: IL-6 activates pathways that contribute to muscle regeneration and adaptation, thus helping muscles to recover and become stronger after physical activity.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Exercise

The efficacy of exercise to reverse frailty in an aging population has been investigated in a randomized controlled trial (2). The study investigated the effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise program (MCEP) in older adults that also included the measurement of blood biomarkers Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The results clearly indicate that when compared with controls at 12-weeks, the MCEP group significantly showed a decrease in IL-6 and CRP levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study clearly demonstrated that the MCEP exercise program was effective in improving physical performance and quality of life. Further, it delays frailty and decreases inflammation in frail older adults (2).  

IL-6 can easily be measured in various biological fluids with a conventional ELISA assay.

Human IL-6 ELISA (cat. no. BI-IL6)

• HIGH SENSITIVITY – detectable  values in serum and plasma samples
• RELIABLE – full validation
• CONVENIENT – ready to use calibrators and controls
• PROMOTION – Take 15% off!

 

IL-6 ELISA ASSAY CHARACTERISTICS (#BI-IL6)

• Method: Sandwich ELISA, HRP/TMB, 12×8-well detachable strips
• Sample type: Plasma (EDTA, citrate, heparin), serum, cell culture, and urine
• Sample volume / well: 100 µl
• Incubation: 2 h / 1 h / 1 h / 30 min
• Sensitivity:  0.28 pg/ml (LLOQ: 0.78 pg/ml (measurable concentrations in serum AND plasma samples)
• Assay range: 0 – 200 pg/ml (ready standards with concentrations at: 0 /3.12 / 6.25 / 12.5 / 25 / 25 / 50 /100 /200 pg/ml)  
• Precision: In-between-run (n=3): ≤ 6 % CV, within-run (n=3): ≤ 7 % CV
• Specificity: The human IL-6 ELISA recognizes recombinant and endogenous (natural human IL-6)
• Validation data: precision, accuracy, dilution linearity, parallelism, values for healthy donors are shown here
• Use: research use only

 

Literature

1. Interleukin-6 myokine signaling in skeletal muscle: a double-edged sword? Muñoz-Cánoves Pet al., FEBS J. 2013; 280(17):4131-48. doi: 10.1111/febs.12338.
2. Multicomponent Exercise Program Reduces Frailty and Inflammatory Biomarkers and Improves Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Sadjapong U et al., Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 7(11):3760. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113760.