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Screening Assays to Characterize Novel Endothelial Regulators Involved in the Inflammatory Response
Published on: September 15, 2017
The Soluble Interleukin 6 Receptor: Advanced Therapeutic Options in Inflammation
1Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Germany.
Abstract:
Interleukin (IL)-6 binds to IL-6R and the complex of IL-6 and IL-6R associates with the receptor subunit gp130, which initiates signaling. gp130 is expressed on all cells. IL-6R is cleaved by the ADAM17, generating a soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R). The sIL-6R binds IL-6 and the complex of IL-6 and sIL-6R binds to gp130 even on cells that do not express IL-6R. This process, which has been called IL-6 trans-signaling, increases the spectrum of target cells for IL-6. We generated a protein, sgp130Fc, which inhibits IL-6 trans-signaling without affecting IL-6 classic signaling. Using the sgp130Fc protein we demonstrated that IL-6 classic signaling is antiinflammatory and protective, whereas IL-6 trans-signaling is proinflammatory. Blocking IL-6 trans-signaling does not compromise the defense of the body against bacterial infections. We suggest that sgp130Fc is a superior agent as compared to IL-6 or IL-6R antibodies to block IL-6. The sgp130Fc protein is in phase II clinical trials.
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