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: Toshio Tanaka, Masashi Narazaki, Tadamitsu Kishimoto
• Journal: Immunotherapy (Immunotherapy) Vol. 8 Issue 8 Pg. 959-70 (07 2016) ISSN: 1750-7448 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27381687 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Interleukin-6
• tocilizumab

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (therapeutic use)
• Blood Coagulation
• Endothelium, Vascular (pathology)
• Humans
• Immunotherapy (methods)
• Inflammation
• Interleukin-6 (immunology)
• Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic (immunology, therapy)
• Macrophage Activation Syndrome (immunology, therapy)
• Sepsis (immunology, therapy)