title: Immunotherapeutic implication of IL-6 blockade.
abstract: IL-6 is a cytokine featuring redundancy and pleiotropic activity. While IL-6 contributes to host defense against acute environmental stress, continuous IL-6 production plays a significant pathological role in various autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. To counter this drawback, tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, was developed. Clinical trials have verified the efficacy of tocilizumab for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Castleman's disease and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, resulting in approval of this innovative biologic for their treatment. Moreover, a considerable number of case reports and pilot studies have indicated the beneficial effects of tocilizumab on other autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Further clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab for these diseases are essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy & Rheumatic Diseases, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Tadamitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; C502936:tocilizumab