Abstract
Every clinician knows the elevation of acute phase proteins at the inflammatory status, but nobody knows the CRP or SAA induction mechanism on inflammation, in which a lot of cytokines or chemokines are activated. Induction mechanism of CRP and SAA is analyzed based on the result of the normalization of serum CRP or SAA in rheumatoid arthritis by the IL-6 blocking therapy with a humanized anti IL-6 receptor antibody. Ultimately, IL-6 is a pivotal cytokine among IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-a in induction of CRP and SAA in hepatocyte. Furthermore, activation of STAT3, a transcriptional factor under IL-6 signal transduction pathway, is critical on the expression of these mRNAs. Based on this mechanism, the depression of CRP and SAA induction could be explained by the IL-6 blockage both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, IL-6 blocking therapy may elucidate the pathogenic significance of IL-6 in chronic inflammatory disease.
