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Interleukin-6 in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis

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Systemic Sclerosis

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Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that acts in the development of B-lymphocytes; the proliferation of megakaryocytes, mesangial cells, and keratinocytes; and the production of acute-phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP). Many reports suggest that IL-6 plays a partial role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Here, I describe its functions, signal transduction pathways, and involvement in SSc and then introduce an anti-IL-6 therapy for SSc using an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab. To evaluate the effect of such an anti-cytokine therapy, a large-scale study is needed. And a worldwide-scale study may require a new evaluation method to suppress inter-institute variability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Rheumatic Diseases, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan

    Yoshihito Shima

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  1. Yoshihito Shima
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Correspondence to Yoshihito Shima .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

    Kazuhiko Takehara

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Manabu Fujimoto

  3. Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Masataka Kuwana

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Shima, Y. (2016). Interleukin-6 in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis. In: Takehara, K., Fujimoto, M., Kuwana, M. (eds) Systemic Sclerosis. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55708-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55708-1_7

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