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Induction of Alloantigen-specific Anergy in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells by Alloantigen Stimulation with Co-stimulatory Signal Blockade
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Immunotherapeutic implication of IL-6 blockade

Toshio Tanaka1, Tadamitsu Kishimoto

  • 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergy & Rheumatic Diseases, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.

Immunotherapy
|December 14, 2011
PubMed

IL-6 is a cytokine featuring redundancy and pleiotropic activity. While IL-6 contributes to host defense against acute environmental stress, continuous IL-6 production plays a significant pathological role in various autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. To counter this drawback, tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, was developed. Clinical trials have verified the efficacy of tocilizumab for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Castleman's disease and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, resulting in approval of this innovative biologic for their treatment. Moreover, a considerable number of case reports and pilot studies have indicated the beneficial effects of tocilizumab on other autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Further clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab for these diseases are essential.

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