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Inhibition of the Interleukin-6 Signaling Pathway: A Strategy to Induce Immune Tolerance

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Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is multifunctional, with multifaceted effects. IL-6 signaling plays a vital role in the control of the differentiation and activation of T lymphocytes by inducing different pathways. In particular, IL-6 controls the balance between Th17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells. An imbalance between Treg and Th17 cells is thought to play a pathological role in various immune-mediated diseases. Deregulated IL-6 production and signaling are associated with immune tolerance. Therefore, methods of inhibiting IL-6 production, receptors, and signaling pathways are strategies that are currently being widely pursued to develop novel therapies that induce immune tolerance. This survey aims to provide an updated account of why IL-6 inhibitors are becoming a vital class of drugs that are potentially useful for inducing immune tolerance as a treatment for autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection. In addition, we discuss the effect of targeting IL-6 in recent experimental and clinical studies on autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation (no. 81170529) and the special foundation for the “1130 project” of Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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  1. Department of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People’s Republic of China

    Cheng Zhang, Xi Zhang & Xing-Hua Chen

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  1. Cheng Zhang
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Correspondence to Cheng Zhang.

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Zhang, C., Zhang, X. & Chen, XH. Inhibition of the Interleukin-6 Signaling Pathway: A Strategy to Induce Immune Tolerance. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 47, 163–173 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-014-8413-3

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