Interleukins (ILs) are key mediators in the regulation and coordination of the immune response. Glycoprotein 130 (gp130) belongs to the family of class I cytokine receptors and is the common signal transducing receptor subunit of the IL-6-type cytokines: IL-6, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), oncostatin M (OSM), and cardiotrophin-1¹.The inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-11 induce gp130 homodimerization after binding to their specific α receptors, which leads to the activation of the Janus kinase/STAT signal transduction pathway². Gp130 Heterodimerizes with LIFR in response to LIF, CNTF, OSM, or CT1³.

The extracellular part of gp130 contains an Ig-like domain (D1) followed by single cytokine binding module (CBM) (D2 and D3) and three fibronectin type III-like (FNIII) domains (D4, D5, and D6)³.

Gp130 mRNA is ubiquitously expressed in the human body, exhibiting highest levels in saphenous vein, pericardium, ovary, omental adipose tissue, peritoneum, spleen lymph nodes, and trigeminal ganglia⁴.

Dysregulation of gp130 expression, activation, or associated signaling pathways are implicated in a variety of human diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Castleman’s disease, cardiac myxoma, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, asthma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (CNTF), diabetes, atherosclerosis, systemic lupus, obesity, and postmenopausal osteoporosis⁵.