Pharmacological role and clinical applications of interleukin-6 in rheumatoid disease

rmacological role and clinical applications of interleukin-6 in rheumatoid disease Review (3642) Total Article Views Authors: Pierre Youinou, Sophie Hillion, Gabriel J Tobón, et al Published Date April 2010 Volume 2010:2 Pages 33 - 39 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJICMR.S7041 Pierre Youinou1,2, Sophie Hillion1,2, Gabriel J Tobón1,2, Divi Cornec1,2, Jacques-Olivier Pers1,2, Alain Saraux1,2, Boutahar Bendaoud1,2, Yves Renaudineau1,2, Christophe Jamin1,2 1Université Européenne de Bretagne and Université de Brest, “Immunology and Pathology”, 2ScInBioS, Brest, France; University Medical School Hospital, Brest, France Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that promotes polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes. This implies that its deregulation favors inflammatory conditions. Through the association of the transducing glycoprotein 130 with the membrane-anchored receptor (R) α, IL-6 can generate functionally distinct signals. Given these particular molecular aspects, numerous activities ascribed to this cytokine are, in fact, due to the insertion into soluble IL-6Rα. The system is instrumental in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sj gren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this respect, it is interesting that the expression of the recombination-activating gene is sustained by IL-6 in B lymphocytes, and repressed by anti-IL-6R antibody (Ab) in RA and SLE. Agents that inhibit IL-6 signaling have now entered clinical trials. As expected, clinical benefits are reported in the treatment of autoimmune disorders with anti-IL-6R Ab, but other perspectives remain open in the forthcoming biotherapies of immune-mediated disorders.