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Review
. 2019 Apr 16;50(4):1007-1023.
doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.026.

Targeting Interleukin-6 Signaling in Clinic

Sujin Kang  1 , Toshio Tanaka  2 , Masashi Narazaki  3 , Tadamitsu Kishimoto  4
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Targeting Interleukin-6 Signaling in Clinic

Sujin Kang et al. Immunity. .
Free article

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with roles in immunity, tissue regeneration, and metabolism. Rapid production of IL-6 contributes to host defense during infection and tissue injury, but excessive synthesis of IL-6 and dysregulation of IL-6 receptor signaling is involved in disease pathology. Therapeutic agents targeting the IL-6 axis are effective in rheumatoid arthritis, and applications are being extended to other settings of acute and chronic inflammation. Recent studies reveal that selective blockade of different modes of IL-6 receptor signaling has different outcomes on disease pathology, suggesting novel strategies for therapeutic intervention. However, some inflammatory diseases do not seem to respond to IL-6 blockade. Here, we review the current state of IL-6-targeting approaches in the clinic and discuss how to apply the growing understanding of the immunobiology of IL-6 to clinical decisions.

Keywords: IL-6; IL-6 receptor; acute; cancer; chronic; gp130; inflammation.

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