ABSTRACT
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine, which participates in many physiological and pathological functions. Studies have shown that IL-6 first forms a heterohexameric complex with its own receptors (IL-6R, gp130), which further activate downstream signal transduction pathways, and finally exerts biological functions. However, abnormal activation and dysfunction of IL-6 signaling pathway are closely related to a variety of diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and malignant tumors. In addition, the abnormal expression of IL-6 also plays an important role in COVID-19’s cytokine storm syndrome (CSS). In general, treatments that block key molecules in the IL-6 signaling pathway can be used for IL-6-related diseases. Different from blocking shared receptor molecules such as IL-6R or gp130, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that block IL-6 protein are more specific. In clinical research, some antibodies targeting IL-6 show their unique therapeutic characteristics and beneficial effects. At present, only one monoclonal antibody drug targeting IL-6 protein has been approved by the US FDA for marketing, and more than 8 therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are in the clinical research. This article focuses on a brief review of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting human IL-6 protein around world and their clinical applications. © 2022, China Biotechnology Press. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the characteristics of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China, Italy, and South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed national epidemiological information of COVID-19 was retracted from the latest statistics reports from China, Italy, and South Korea. Population-based analysis of the age distribution among confirmed cases was conducted and their crude case fatality ratio in each c RESULTS: The age distributions among COVID-19 cases were relatively similar between China and Italy with primarily elderly populations infected, which were considerably different from that in South Korea with primarily younger individuals infected. Most deaths occurred among elderly individuals who were older than 60 years in both Italy (98.0%) and South Korea (87.9%), consistent with the previous data from China (81.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Most deaths occurred among elderly individuals who were over 60 in China, Italy, and South Korea. South Korea's data suggest that younger individuals might be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which might be fully under detected in China and Italy.