Frontiers in Pharmacology (Nov 2022)

The role of IL-6 in coronavirus, especially in COVID-19

  • Xinyi Wang,
  • Guozheng Tang,
  • Yuchen Liu,
  • Lizhi Zhang,
  • Bangjie Chen,
  • Yanxun Han,
  • Ziyue Fu,
  • Liuning Wang,
  • Guangzhi Hu,
  • Qing Ma,
  • Shuyan Sheng,
  • Jianpeng Wang,
  • Xinyang Hu,
  • Song Shao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1033674
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects both people and animals and may cause significant respiratory problems, including lung illness: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Swabs taken from the throat and nose of people who have the illness or are suspected of having it have shown this pathogenic virus. When SARS-CoV-2 infects the upper and lower respiratory tracts, it may induce moderate to severe respiratory symptoms, as well as the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 6 (IL-6). COVID-19-induced reduction of IL-6 in an inflammatory state may have a hitherto undiscovered therapeutic impact. Many inflammatory disorders, including viral infections, has been found to be regulated by IL-6. In individuals with COVID-19, one of the primary inflammatory agents that causes inflammatory storm is IL-6. It promotes the inflammatory response of virus infection, including the virus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, and provides a new diagnostic and therapeutic strategy. In this review article, we highlighted the functions of IL-6 in the coronavirus, especially in COVID-19, showing that IL-6 activation plays an important function in the progression of coronavirus and is a rational therapeutic goal for inflammation aimed at coronavirus.

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