Description
Oncostatin M (OSM) is a pleitropic cytokine produced by activated T lymphocytes and monocytes that is structurally and functionally related to the subfamily of cytokines known as the IL-6-type cytokine family.1 OSM either inhibits or enhances the growth of cells depending on cell type. It inhibits proliferation of skeletal muscle cells by blocking cell cycle progression from G(1) to S phase.2 OSM is also a key mediator for proliferation and anti-apoptosis of hepatocytes which suggests that OSM gene therapy is useful, as preventive and curative means, for the treatment of patients with liver damage.3