Role of interleukin-6 in regulation of immune responses to remodeling after myocardial infarction.

Myocardial remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) is emerging as key causes of chronic infarct mortality. Interleukin-6 is a classic pro-inflammatory cytokine needed to mount an effective immune response. It seems that interleukin-6 acts as an important role in the dynamic and superbly orchestrated process of innate immunity after MI. Interleukin-6 timely suppresses of innate immune signals to prevent the catastrophic consequences of uncontrolled inflammation on cardiac geometry and function, and thus tunes myocardial remodeling. A comprehensive understanding of biological processes of interleukin-6 in innate immunity leading to inflammatory response and disease-related ventricular remodeling is helpful to find the solution of chronic heart failure. To accomplish this, we reviewed the articles of interleukin-6 regard to inflammation, innate immunity, and cardiac remodeling. This review focuses on the role of interleukin-6 that dominates cell-mediated immunity, especially on neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts. In addition, we will also briefly discuss other inflammatory cytokines involved in this process within the paper.