The effect of il-6 enhancement due to oral cavity infection on skeletal muscle

One of the cytokines that often play a role in the body's response mechanism to infections, inflammation, and various other diseases is Interleukin-6 (IL-6). The role of IL-6 is determined by the signaling mechanism involving various intracellular molecules. Oral infection that can cause an increase in IL-6 level mainly is periodontitis. In periodontitis, the increased level of IL-6 do not only occur locally, but also systemically, in which it affects several tissues, one of which is skeletal muscle. Several studies have proven that the enhancement of IL-6 levels which are caused by oral cavity infections influences the skeletal muscle tissue in both humans and experimental animals. The results of the IL-6 signaling can result in the reduction of muscle mass. The mechanism of IL-6 level enhancement, which results from the host response to oral cavity infections affecting skeletal muscle, is still being discussed and investigated further.