IL-6 is associated with articular and systemic RA symptoms, including2-6:
Osteoclast activity that leads to structural damage through bone resorption2,7
Fatigue2,7
Morning stiffness8,9
IL-6 plays a direct role in inflammation and autoimmunity in RA10,11
The widespread effects of the multifunctional cytokine IL-6 stem from its ability to bind to and signal via both soluble and membrane-bound receptors2,7
IL-6=interleukin-6; RA=rheumatoid arthritis.
References: 1. KEVZARA [prescribing information]. Bridgewater, NJ: Sanofi/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; 2017. 2. Dayer JM, Choy E. Therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis: the interleukin-6 receptor. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2010;49(1):15-24. 3. McInnes IB. Schett G. Cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Immunol. 2007;7(6):429-442. 4. Boyapati A, Msihid J, Fiore S, van Adelsberg J, Graham NM, Hamilton JD. Sarilumab plus methotrexate suppresses circulating biomarkers of bone resorption and synovial damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to methotrexate: a biomarker study of MOBILITY. Arthritis Res Ther. 2016;18(1):225. 5. Maggio M, Guralnik JM, Longo DL, Ferrucci L. Interleukin-6 in aging and chronic disease: a magnificent pathway. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006;61(6):575-584. 6. Mihara M, Hashizume M, Yoshida H, Suzuki M, Shiina M. IL-6/IL-6 receptor system and its role in physiological and pathological conditions. Clin Sci (Lond). 2012;122(4):143-159. 7. Choy E. Understanding the dynamics: pathways involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2012;51(suppl 5):v3-v11. 8. Crofford LJ, Kalogeras KT, Mastorakos G, et al. Circadian relationships between interleukin (IL)-6 and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones: failure of IL-6 to cause sustained hypercortisolism in patients with early untreated rheumatoid arthritis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.1997;82(4)1279-1283. 9. Gibbs JE, Ray DW. The role of the circadian clock in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15(1)205. 10. Yoshitake F, Itoh S, Narita H, Ishihara K, Ebisu S. Interleukin-6 directly inhibits osteoclast differentiation by suppressing receptor activator of NF-kappaB signaling pathways. J Biol Chem. 2008;283(17):11535-11540. 11. Rose-John S, Scheller J, Elson G, Jones SA. Interleukin-6 biology is coordinated by membrane-bound and soluble receptors: role in inflammation and cancer. J Leukoc Biol. 2006;80(2):227-236.
