| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2540327 | International Immunopharmacology | 2016 | 6 Pages |
•IL-6 is an important cytokine in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).•Inhibition of IL-6 pathways by tocilizumab exerts anti-inflammatory effects on RA.•We discussed the effect of tocilizumab on the immunoregulation in patients with RA.
Interleukin (IL)-6 is one of the crucial proinflammatory cytokines. The dysregulation of IL-6 plays a pivotal role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is involved in several of the common clinical manifestations associated with active RA. Recent therapies targeting IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have resulted in clinical improvements in signs and symptoms, disability and quality of life in patients with early and long-standing RA. Because it has been demonstrated that cytokines and inflammatory/immunological factors appear to be important and sensitive mediators in RA patients treated with tocilizumab and with anti-TNF biologics, it is important to investigate whether tocilizumab administration has any effect(s) on the profiles of cytokines and inflammatory/immunological factors and whether these changes correlate with the clinical improvement in RA disease activity. In this review, we discuss the effects on cytokine regulation and the differentiation of immune cells, especially T cells, after tocilizumab therapy in patients with RA.
