Roles of IL-6 in Ocular Inflammation: A Review

Purpose: This review represents the current in vitro, in vivo animal and human researches on the roles of IL-6 in inflammatory ocular disorders. Data sources were literature reviewed using PubMed, Medline, and ISI Databases (since 1981 to late 2016). Search items included interleukine-6 (IL-6); chemokine; cytokine, alone or in combination with serum, aqueous, vitreous, eye, ocular, ophthalmic, and review.Results: IL-6 is found to be involved in ocular inflammation. Ocular effects of IL-6 differ based on the source of the secretion and site of the action. The most important effects of IL-6 in the eyes are angiogenic activities and induction of ocular inflammation.Conclusion: IL-6 plays an important role in ocular inflammation and angiogenesis in conjunctiva, cornea, iris, retina, and orbit. Anti-IL-6 targeted immunotherapy has recently been employed as an important treatment modality in IL-6-related ocular disorders, provided that IL-6 signal blocking takes place in preferred and favorite targets.