title: The biology behind interleukin-6 targeted interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biological drugs that target the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) are increasingly considered as therapies for chronic disease and cancer. The purpose of this review is to place the biology of IL-6 in context. Here, we provide information on the biology behind IL-6 and consider mechanisms that are relevant to the application of IL-6 targeted therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical blockade of IL-6 activity with tocilizumab has fuelled considerable interest in the biology behind this inflammatory cytokine. Although IL-6 impacts both innate and adaptive immunity, and the control of tissue homeostasis, the signalling mechanisms that control IL-6 responsiveness are complex. Several alternative IL-6-directed interventions with unique modes of action are now approaching the clinic. However, various questions still remain about how and when to block IL-6. Owing to the complexity of IL-6 biology, this is not trivial. In this review, we introduce the immunobiology of IL-6 and explore the different therapeutic strategies in development that inhibit IL-6 activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various inhibitors of IL-6 bioactivity are now in development of routine clinical practice. The key is to understand how best to apply these drugs. This review provides useful insight into the workings of IL-6 in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Immunity, The School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Campus, Cardiff , Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gareth W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Ernest H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: Simon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C508600:IL6 protein, human; C494199:IL6ST protein, human; C502936:tocilizumab