title: Inhibition of the interleukin-6 signaling pathway: a strategy to induce immune tolerance.
abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is multifunctional, with multifaceted effects. IL-6 signaling plays a vital role in the control of the differentiation and activation of T lymphocytes by inducing different pathways. In particular, IL-6 controls the balance between Th17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells. An imbalance between Treg and Th17 cells is thought to play a pathological role in various immune-mediated diseases. Deregulated IL-6 production and signaling are associated with immune tolerance. Therefore, methods of inhibiting IL-6 production, receptors, and signaling pathways are strategies that are currently being widely pursued to develop novel therapies that induce immune tolerance. This survey aims to provide an updated account of why IL-6 inhibitors are becoming a vital class of drugs that are potentially useful for inducing immune tolerance as a treatment for autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection. In addition, we discuss the effect of targeting IL-6 in recent experimental and clinical studies on autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People's Republic of China, chzhang2014@163.com.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xing-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C508600:IL6 protein, human