title: Immunotherapeutic implications of IL-6 blockade for cytokine storm.
abstract: IL-6 contributes to host defense against infections and tissue injuries. However, exaggerated, excessive synthesis of IL-6 while fighting environmental stress leads to an acute severe systemic inflammatory response known as 'cytokine storm', since high levels of IL-6 can activate the coagulation pathway and vascular endothelial cells but inhibit myocardial function. Remarkable beneficial effects of IL-6 blockade therapy using a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab were recently observed in patients with cytokine release syndrome complicated by T-cell engaged therapy. In this review we propose the possibility that IL-6 blockade may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for other types of cytokine storm, such as the systemic inflammatory response syndrome including sepsis, macrophage activation syndrome and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Application of Biologics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.|Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy & Rheumatic Diseases, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy & Rheumatic Diseases, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narazaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadamitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D055501:Macrophage Activation Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015850:Interleukin-6; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: IL-6; cytokine storm; interleukin-6; sepsis; tocilizumab