title: Interleukin-6 in renal disease and therapy.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-6 has become a major target for clinical intervention in various autoimmune conditions. Here, drugs including the humanized anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody tocilizumab emphasize the clinical importance of IL-6 in driving disease and poor patient outcomes. During the course of this review, we will outline the biology surrounding IL-6 and discuss the impact of IL-6 in renal disease and the clinical complications associated with renal replacement therapies and transplantation. We will also consider the merit of IL-6 measurement as a prognostic indicator and provide a clinical perspective on IL-6-blocking therapies in renal disease.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK jonessa@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Simon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Ceri A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Gareth W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6
keywords: cytokines; interleukin-6; renal disease; therapy