Proteolytic generation of the soluble interleukin-6 receptor in vivo (A14*)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 125440785

The project deals with the soluble IL-6R in the circulation. This protein is generated by ADAM17-independent proteolysis since humans and mice without detectable ADAM17 activity exhibit normal soluble IL-6R levels. The level of soluble IL-6R is a critical determinant of susceptibility to inflammatory diseases. The project will identify the proteolytic activity responsible for the generation of the steady-state soluble IL-6R serum levels. We will screen candidate proteases and validate their involvement in sIL-6R generation with corresponding knock-out mouse models.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 877: Proteolysis as a Regulatory Event in Pathophysiology
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Christoph Garbers; Professor Dr. Stefan Rose-John