Anticytokine therapy in autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune reaction and inflammation observed in autoimmune diseases may be caused by the deregulated production of cytokines. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a wide range of biological activities such as support of hematopoiesis, regulation of acute phase reactions, and generati on of immune responses. Uncontrolled hyperproduction of IL-6 causes plasmac ytosis, hyper-gamma-globulinemia, thrombocytosis, mesangial cell proliferat ion of the kidney as well as inflammatory symptoms which are frequently obs erved in autoimmune diseases. Thus, interference with IL-6 signal transduct ion may be useful for autoimmune disease therapy. The pathogenic significan ce of IL-6 in autoimmune disorders and new therapeutic approaches involving blocking of IL-6 signal transduction are discussed.