Niculet Elena, Chioncel Valentin, Elisei Alina M, Miulescu Magdalena, Buzia Olimpia D, Nwabudike Lawrence C, Craescu Mihaela, Draganescu Miruna, Bujoreanu Florin, Marinescu Elisabeta, Arbune Manuela, Radaschin Diana Sabina, Bobeica Carmen, Nechita Aurel, Tatu Alin L
Department of Morphological and Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, 'Dunărea de Jos' University, 800010 Galati, Romania.
Cardio-Thoracic Department, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.
Exp Ther Med. 2021 Mar;21(3):263. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.9693. Epub 2021 Jan 25.
Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a cytokine produced by various cells of the human body (macrophages, lymphocytes, astrocytes, ischemic myocytes, endothelial cells) has both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, being a key component in regulating various physiologic and pathological processes. The structure of this molecule and the receptor system it possesses are important due to the different activities that IL-6 can exert; through trans-signaling pro-inflammatory activities are mediated, while through classic signaling, IL-6 is responsible for anti-inflammatory and regenerative activities. IL-6 signaling is involved in coronary artery disease and the global COVID-19 pandemic. This proatherogenic cytokine reaches elevated serum levels in the cytokine storm generated by SARS-CoV-2, and is also associated with smoking or obesity-classic cardiovascular risk factors which promote inflammatory states. IL-6 levels are proportionally correlated with dyslipidemia, hypertension and glucose dysregulation, and they are associated with poor outcomes in patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction. IL-6 targeting for treatment development (not only) in cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 is still a matter of ongoing research, although tocilizumab has proven to be effective in reducing the proatherogenic effects of IL-6 and is suggested to improve COVID-19 patient survival.
白细胞介素6（IL-6）是一种由人体各种细胞（巨噬细胞、淋巴细胞、星形胶质细胞、缺血性心肌细胞、内皮细胞）产生的细胞因子，具有促炎和抗炎特性，是调节各种生理和病理过程的关键成分。由于IL-6能发挥不同的活性，该分子的结构及其拥有的受体系统很重要；通过转信号传导介导促炎活性，而通过经典信号传导，IL-6负责抗炎和再生活性。IL-6信号传导与冠状动脉疾病和全球新冠疫情有关。这种促动脉粥样硬化细胞因子在SARS-CoV-2引发的细胞因子风暴中血清水平升高，并且还与吸烟或肥胖等促进炎症状态的经典心血管危险因素有关。IL-6水平与血脂异常、高血压和血糖失调成比例相关，并且与不稳定型心绞痛或急性心肌梗死患者的不良预后相关。尽管托珠单抗已被证明可有效降低IL-6的促动脉粥样硬化作用，并被认为可提高新冠患者的生存率，但针对（不仅是）心血管疾病和新冠治疗开发的IL-6靶向治疗仍在研究中。
