IL-6: Relevance for immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Cytokine & growth factor reviews Vol. 53; pp. 13 - 24
• Main Authors: Gubernatorova, E.O., Gorshkova, E.A., Polinova, A.I., Drutskaya, M.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2020; The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Anti-cytokine therapeutics; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Betacoronavirus - drug effects; Betacoronavirus - immunology; Betacoronavirus - pathogenicity; Coronavirus Infections - drug therapy; Coronavirus Infections - mortality; Coronavirus Infections - pathology; COVID-19; Cytokine release syndrome; Cytokine Release Syndrome - drug therapy; Cytokine Release Syndrome - pathology; Cytokine Release Syndrome - virology; Humans; IL-6; Interleukin-6 - antagonists & inhibitors; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-6 - immunology; Lung Diseases - immunology; Lung Diseases - pathology; Lung Diseases - virology; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - drug therapy; Pneumonia, Viral - mortality; Pneumonia, Viral - pathology; SARS-CoV-2; Anti-cytokine therapeutics; SARS-CoV-2; Cytokine release syndrome; IL-6
• ISSN: 1359-6101; 1879-0305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.05.009

•COVID-19 severe outcomes is associated with the respiratory failure and cytokine release syndrome with elevated IL-6 as a predicting parameter.•Chronic inflammation, associated with elevated inflammatory serum cytokines, including IL-6, may exacerbate SARS-CoV-2 induced pathology.•IL-6 is a promising therapeutic target for the anti-cytokine therapy of SARS-CoV-2 severe cases. COVID-19 mortality is strongly associated with the development of severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome with the worst outcome resulting in cytokine release syndrome and multiorgan failure. It is becoming critically important to identify at the early stage of the infection those patients who are prone to develop the most adverse effects. Elevated systemic interleukin-6 levels in patients with COVID-19 are considered as a relevant parameter in predicting most severe course of disease and the need for intensive care. This review discusses the mechanisms by which IL-6 may possibly contribute to disease exacerbation and the potential of therapeutic approaches based on anti-IL-6 biologics.