Targeting IL-6 Signaling Pathways for Musculoskeletal Disorders Treatment: Risks and Benefits

Pro-inflammatory mediators like IL-6 effectively mediated the majority of musculoskeletal disorders such rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and tendinitis. Increased levels of IL-6 are found in the serum or synovial fluid of patients with these disorders, and these levels are correlated with the incidence and severity of the disease. IL-6 is crucial for the development of cartilage pathology, for example, by inducing a variety of pathways that are involved in the induction and spread of inflammation. The expression of anti-catabolic factors is similarly increased by IL-6, indicating a protective function. The differential impacts of IL-6 classic and trans-signaling may be the reason for this dual role of IL-6, which has so far remained poorly understood. In this article, the experimental and clinical data on the function of inhibiting IL-6 signaling in the development and progression of pathologies of the synovium, cartilage, and bones were thoroughly reviewed. By evaluating the IL-6 targeting approaches that are currently being considered in research and clinical practice, it may provide a glimpse into the future of these illnesses' treatment.