The value of blocking IL-6 outside of rheumatoid arthritis: current perspective.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates immune response and induces acute phase response. Despite the important physiological activities of IL-6, dysregulated overproduction of IL-6 is pathologically involved in various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A series of clinical studies of tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody, for patients with RA refractory to conventional therapy or anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy have demonstrated the clinical benefit of IL-6 blockade in RA. On the other hand, there is now accumulating evidence that tocilizumab is therapeutically effective for patients with a number of IMIDs other than RA. This review focuses on the perspective of IL-6 blockade therapy for such IL-6-related IMIDs outside of RA.

RECENT FINDINGS:

A considerable number of case reports and preclinical studies have shown the benefit of IL-6 blockade therapy in various IMIDs such as systemic lupus erythematosus, adult-onset Still disease, Takayasu arthritis, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic sclerosis, reactive arthritis, dermatomyositis, and polymyositis.

SUMMARY:

Blocking IL-6 with tocilizumab can be a therapeutic option for patients with various IMIDs in which overproduction of IL-6 plays a pathological role. Future clinical studies investigating the safety and efficacy will elucidate the clinical benefits of IL-6 blockade therapy for such diseases.

• Authors: Miho Murakami, Norihiro Nishimoto
• Journal: Current opinion in rheumatology (Curr Opin Rheumatol) Vol. 23 Issue 3 Pg. 273-7 (May 2011) ISSN: 1531-6963 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21427577 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• IL6 protein, human
• Interleukin-6
• Receptors, Interleukin-6
• tocilizumab

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Arthritis, Reactive (immunology, therapy)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (immunology, therapy)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Dermatomyositis (immunology, therapy)
• Humans
• Immune System Diseases (immunology, therapy)
• Inflammation (immunology, therapy)
• Interleukin-6 (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (immunology, therapy)
• Receptors, Interleukin-6 (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Scleroderma, Systemic (immunology, therapy)
• Still's Disease, Adult-Onset (immunology, therapy)
• Takayasu Arteritis (immunology, therapy)