Kidney Diseases (Mar 2023)

Role of IL-6 family cytokines in organ fibrosis

  • Ying Chen,
  • Jiaxin Zhou,
  • Shihui Xu,
  • Jing Nie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000530288

Abstract

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Background: Organ fibrosis remains an important cause of high incidence rate and mortality worldwide. The prominent role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) family members represented by IL-6 in inflammation has been extensively studied, and drugs targeting IL-6 have been used clinically. Because of the close relationship between inflammation and fibrosis, researches on the role of IL-6 family members in organ fibrosis are also gradually emerging. Summary: In this review, we systematically reviewed the role of IL-6 family members in fibrosis and their possible mechanisms. We listed the role of IL-6 family members in organ fibrosis, and drew two diagrams to illustrate the downstream signal transductions of IL-6 family members. We also summarized the effect of some IL-6 family members' antagonists in a table. Key Messages: Fibrosis contributes to organ structure damage, organ dysfunction and eventually organ failure. Although IL-6 family cytokines have similar downstream signal pathways, different members play various roles in an organ-specific manner which might partly due to their different target cell populations. The pathogenic role of individual member in various diseases needs to be deciphered carefully.