[Clinical application of interleukin-6 receptor antibody].
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine which shows multiple biological functions. Pathological significance of IL-6 has been elucidated in various diseases including multiple myeloma, Castleman's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Thus the blockade of IL-6 signal transduction may be therapeutically effective for these diseases. For this purpose, humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody was prepared, and its therapeutic efficacy has been examined. Immediately after administration of humanized anti-IL-y receptor antibody to the patients with multiple myeloma, fever and systemic edema disappeared followed by the stability of M-protein which had been rapidly increased before the treatment. Humaniged anti-IL-6 receptor antibody also improved not only the chronic inflammatory symptoms but also laboratory findings such a hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate observed both in Castleman's disease and in rheumatoid arthritis. The data suggest that the blockade of IL-6 signal transduction can be a new therapeutic approach based on the pathological significance of IL-6 in these diseases.
Nishimoto
N
N
Shima
Y
Y
Sasai
M
M
Danno
N
N
Yoshizaki
K
K
D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000628:therapy*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D015398:Signal Transduction
D000906:Antibodies; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6