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The cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 are produced by cells of the adaptive and innate arms of the immune system and they appear to play key roles in genetically diverse autoimmune diseases such as relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whereas previous intense investigations focused on the generation of autoantibodies and their contribution to immune-mediated pathogenesis in these diseases; more recent attention has focused on the roles of cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-10. In response to pathogens, antigen presenting cells (APC), including B cells, produce IL-6 and IL-10 in order to up-or down-regulate immune cell activation and effector responses. Evidence of elevated levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 has been routinely observed during inflammatory responses and in a number of autoimmune diseases. Our recent studies suggest …