Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Highly Sensitive details

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the body's key inflammatory signaling proteins (cytokines), released in response to infection, injury, and many inflammatory conditions, and it's also one of the primary drivers behind the liver's production of CRP. The 'highly sensitive' version of this test is designed to detect the lower, more chronic levels of IL-6 relevant to ongoing, low-grade inflammation — which has been linked to cardiovascular disease, metabolic conditions, and general aging-related inflammation ('inflammaging') — rather than just the much higher levels seen during acute illness.