Nearly all age-associated chronic diseases such as metabolic disorders [e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus (adult onset, T2-DM), cardiovascular complications, stroke] or neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases are features of altered immunity involving polarization of immune cells and skewed expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, receptors or surface molecules (e.g., IL-6, TNFRs, M-CSF, CD11, CD34). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is diabetes mellitus.