@Article{ecn.2020.0453,
AUTHOR = {Yao Wang, Chen Liu, Xiaolong Miao, Deqiang Kong, Yingli Zhao, Weihua Gong, Xianfeng Ding},
TITLE = {Therapeutic targeting of interleukin-6 for the treatment of COVID-19},
JOURNAL = {European Cytokine Network},
VOLUME = {31},
YEAR = {2020},
NUMBER = {3},
PAGES = {75--80},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/ECN/v31n3/66134},
ISSN = {1952-4005},
ABSTRACT = {Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first identified in China and has spread worldwide with a significant rate of infection.
Considering the elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in COVID-19, it is suggested that cytokine storms play a
critical role in its pathogenesis, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, there is no specific
drug for preventing the cytokine release syndrome (CRS) caused by COVID-19. Indeed, interleukin 6 (IL-6) has been
highlighted for its many biological functions, such as immune regulation, inflammatory response, and metabolism.
Therapeutic blockade of the IL-6 signaling pathway is expected to reduce the excessive immune reponse observed in
COVID-19. Currently, the IL-6 receptor antagonists tocilizumab and sarilumab, have been adopted for preventing
CRS during the progression of COVID-19, and remarkable beneficial effects were observed by using these humanized
monoclonal antibodies. Based on the pathogenesis of COVID-19, we reviewed the biological mechanism of IL-6
blockade in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and evaluated its clinical applications.},
DOI = {10.1684/ecn.2020.0453}
}