Interleukin-6, role nervous system

There are several members of the family of cytokines that play important roles in the inflammatory responses in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Certain cytokines when secreted following injury to the spinal cord, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), or other injured nerves lead to pain generated from abnormal spontaneous activity in the injured nerve or in compressed or inflamed DRGs. These cytokines are small proteins secreted by cells that control communication among cells. The subgroups include lymphokines, monokines, chemok-ines, and interleukins. The network and interactions of cytokines are extremely complicated, but the family members associated with inflammatory pain seem to be largely limited to IL-ip, IL-6, and TNFa. 

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