However, the addition of sIL-6R, at concentrations equivalent to those in BMMSCs supernatant, to the same hrIL-6 led to augmented CLL survival, with more pSTAT3 generated in CLL cells following this combined treatment, implying a role for both direct and transactivation by IL-6. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.