%0 Journal Article
%T Classical IL-6 signaling: a promising therapeutic target for pulmonary arterial hypertension
%A Rajkumar Savai
%A Soni Savai Pullamsetti
%A Werner Seeger
%J The Journal of Clinical Investigation
%D 2018
%R 10.1172/JCI120415
%X Current therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) provide symptomatic relief and improve prognosis but fall short of improving long-term survival. There is emerging evidence for a role of inflammatory mediators, primarily IL-6, in the pathogenesis of PAH. However, the mechanisms by which IL-6 potentially affects PAH are unknown. In this issue of the JCI, Tamura, Phan, and colleagues identified ectopic upregulation of the membrane-bound IL-6 receptor (IL6R), indicating classical IL-6 signaling in the smooth muscle layer of remodeled vessels in human and experimental PAH. They performed a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments that provide deeper insights into the mechanisms of classical IL-6 signaling and propose interventions directed against IL6R as a potential therapeutic strategy for PAH
%U https://www.jci.org/articles/view/120415