IL6 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Our previous study demonstrated that IL-6 in SLE serum significantly affected the differentiation and function of DCs derived from CD34+ haematopoietic precursor cells (HPCs) and promoted the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, CD80 and CD86, IL-10 production and the ability to stimulate allogenic T-cell proliferation, while decreasing IL-12 secretion by DCs[11].