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Interleukin-6, a major player of cytokine storm in COVID-19 and its alleviation by therapeutic antibodies


Affiliations
1 Centre for BioSeparation Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632 014, India
 

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important cytokine that plays a vital role in immune response and inflamma-tion. Here, the signalling functions of IL-6 through its receptors, physiological and pathological roles, espe-cially its contribution to various autoimmune diseases, cancers and severe COVID-19/SARS-CoV2 infections are described. It is reported that in severe COVID-19 infection and auto-immune diseases, the patients expe-rience cytokine storms due to hyper-activation of the IL-6 receptor pathway leading to detrimental effects. Blocking IL-6 receptor action by therapeutic antibodies has been considered an attractive strategy of treat-ment. The latest findings on the application of anti-IL-6 therapeutic antibodies in COVID-19 patients are also discussed.



Keywords

COVID-19 infection, cytokine storm, im-mune response, interleukin-6, therapeutic antibodies.
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  • Interleukin-6, a major player of cytokine storm in COVID-19 and its alleviation by therapeutic antibodies

Abstract Views: 146  |  PDF Views: 75

Authors

Kumar Simant
Centre for BioSeparation Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632 014, India
Krishnan Venkataraman
Centre for BioSeparation Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632 014, India

Abstract


Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important cytokine that plays a vital role in immune response and inflamma-tion. Here, the signalling functions of IL-6 through its receptors, physiological and pathological roles, espe-cially its contribution to various autoimmune diseases, cancers and severe COVID-19/SARS-CoV2 infections are described. It is reported that in severe COVID-19 infection and auto-immune diseases, the patients expe-rience cytokine storms due to hyper-activation of the IL-6 receptor pathway leading to detrimental effects. Blocking IL-6 receptor action by therapeutic antibodies has been considered an attractive strategy of treat-ment. The latest findings on the application of anti-IL-6 therapeutic antibodies in COVID-19 patients are also discussed.



Keywords


COVID-19 infection, cytokine storm, im-mune response, interleukin-6, therapeutic antibodies.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv123%2Fi6%2F745-753