Recent evidence indicates that targeting IL-6 provides broad therapeutic approaches to several diseases. In patients with cancer, autoimmune diseases, severe respiratory infections [e.g. coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] and wound healing, IL-6 plays a critical role in modulating the systemic and local microenvironment. Elevated serum levels of IL-6 interfere with the systemic immune response and are associated with disease progression and prognosis. As already noted, monoclonal antibodies blocking either IL-6 or binding of IL-6 to receptors have been used/tested successfully in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, many cancer types, and COVID-19. Therefore, in the present review, we compare the impact of IL-6 and anti-IL-6 therapy to demonstrate common (pathological) features of the studied diseases such as formation of granulation tissue with the presence of myofibroblasts and deposition of new extracellular matrix. We also discuss abnormal activation of other wound-healing-related pathways that have been implicated in autoimmune disorders, cancer or COVID-19.

• Klíčová slova
• Cancer stroma, Granulation tissue, IL-6, Inflammation, Myofibroblast, Peripheral nerve injury, Rheumatoid arthritis, SARS-CoV-2, Wound healing,
• MeSH
• autoimunita MeSH
• autoimunitní nemoci * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• COVID-19 * MeSH
• hojení ran MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí MeSH
• nádory * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• zánět MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a highly potent cytokine involved in multiple biological processes. It was previously reported to play a distinct role in inflammation, autoimmune and psychiatric disorders, ageing and various types of cancer. Furthermore, it is understood that IL-6 and its signaling pathways are substantial players in orchestrating the cancer microenvironment. Thus, they appear to be potential targets in anti-tumor therapy. The aim of this article is to elucidate the role of IL-6 in the tumor ecosystem and to review the possible therapeutic approaches in head and neck cancer.

• Klíčová slova
• IL-6, cancer microenvironment, head and neck cancer, targeted therapy,
• MeSH
• interleukin-6 imunologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí * MeSH
• nádory hlavy a krku imunologie   terapie   MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• zánět MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• interleukin-6 MeSH

COVID-19 is a pandemic respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The worldwide epidemiologic data showed higher mortality in males compared to females, suggesting a hypothesis about the protective effect of estrogens against severe disease progression with the ultimate end being patient's death. This article summarizes the current knowledge regarding the potential effect of estrogens and other modulators of estrogen receptors on COVID-19. While estrogen receptor activation shows complex effects on the patient's organism, such as an influence on the cardiovascular/pulmonary/immune system which includes lower production of cytokines responsible for the cytokine storm, the receptor-independent effects directly inhibits viral replication. Furthermore, it inhibits the interaction of IL-6 with its receptor complex. Interestingly, in addition to natural hormones, phytestrogens and even synthetic molecules are able to interact with the estrogen receptor and exhibit some anti-COVID-19 activity. From this point of view, estrogen receptor modulators have the potential to be included in the anti-COVID-19 therapeutic arsenal.

• Klíčová slova
• COVID-19, IL-6, SARS−CoV−2, cytokine storm, estrogen, estrogen receptor, viral replication,
• MeSH
• COVID-19 komplikace   patologie   virologie   MeSH
• internalizace viru účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• modulátory estrogenních receptorů metabolismus   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• nádory prsu komplikace   farmakoterapie   patologie   MeSH
• proteiny virové matrix antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• replikace viru účinky léků   MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 účinky léků   izolace a purifikace   fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• membrane protein, SARS-CoV-2 MeSH Prohlížeč
• modulátory estrogenních receptorů MeSH
• proteiny virové matrix MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny MeSH

The FDA-approved drugs raloxifene and bazedoxifene could be among the best candidates to prevent mortality in severe COVID-19 patients. Raloxifene and bazedoxifene inhibit IL-6 signaling at therapeutic doses, suggesting they have the potential to prevent the cytokine storm, ARDS and mortality in severe COVID-19 patients, as is being shown with humanized antibodies blocking IL-6 signaling. In addition, raloxifene and bazedoxifene are selective estrogen receptor modulators with strong antiviral activity.

• Klíčová slova
• COVID-19 therapy, IL6, SARS-CoV-2, bazedoxifene, cytokine storm, lung failure, raloxifene,
• MeSH
• Betacoronavirus účinky léků   patogenita   MeSH
• COVID-19 MeSH
• cytokiny antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   MeSH
• indoly farmakologie   MeSH
• interleukin-6 antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   MeSH
• koronavirové infekce farmakoterapie   genetika   mortalita   virologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• raloxifen hydrochlorid farmakologie   MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny antagonisté a inhibitory   MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• selektivní modulátory estrogenních receptorů farmakologie   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• syndrom dechové tísně farmakoterapie   prevence a kontrola   virologie   MeSH
• virová pneumonie farmakoterapie   genetika   mortalita   virologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bazedoxifene MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytokiny MeSH
• indoly MeSH
• interleukin-6 MeSH
• raloxifen hydrochlorid MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny MeSH
• selektivní modulátory estrogenních receptorů MeSH

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with multifaceted effects playing a remarkable role in the initiation of the immune response. The increased level of this cytokine in the elderly seems to be associated with the chronic inflammatory setting of the microenvironment in aged individuals. IL-6 also represents one of the main signals in communication between cancer cells and their non-malignant neighbours within the tumour niche. IL-6 also participates in the development of a premetastatic niche and in the adjustment of the metabolism in terminal-stage patients suffering from a malignant disease. IL-6 is a fundamental factor of the cytokine storm in patients with severe COVID-19, where it is responsible for the fatal outcome of the disease. A better understanding of the role of IL-6 under physiological as well as pathological conditions and the preparation of new strategies for the therapeutic control of the IL-6 axis may help to manage the problems associated with the elderly, cancer, and serious viral infections.

• Klíčová slova
• COVID-19, IL-6, ageing, cancer ecosystem, cancer-associated fibroblasts, cytokine, cytokine storm, tumour microenvironment,
• MeSH
• COVID-19 MeSH
• interleukin-6 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• koronavirové infekce metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• stárnutí metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• virová pneumonie metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• interleukin-6 MeSH