Interleukin (IL-6) Immunotherapy

  • Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2018 Aug 1;10(8):a028456. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a028456.
Toshio Tanaka  1  2 ,  Masashi Narazaki  2  3 ,  Tadamitsu Kishimoto  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Clinical Application of Biologics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
  • 2. Department of Immunopathology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
  • 3. Deparment of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Rheumatic Diseases, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
  • 4. Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
PMID: 28778870 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a028456
Abstract

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a prototypical cytokine for maintaining homeostasis. When homeostasis is disrupted by infections or tissue injuries, IL-6 is produced immediately and contributes to host defense against such emergent stress through activation of acute-phase and immune responses. However, dysregulated excessive and persistent synthesis of IL-6 has a pathological effect on, respectively, acute systemic inflammatory response syndrome and chronic immune-mediated diseases. The IL-6 Inhibitor, tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, is currently being used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and Castleman disease. Lines of recent evidence strongly suggest IL-6 blockade can provide broader therapeutic strategy for various diseases included in acute systemic and chronic inflammatory diseases.