The Role of IL-6 in Skin Fibrosis and Cutaneous Wound Healing

Blair Z Johnson; Andrew W Stevenson; Cecilia M Prêle; Mark W Fear; Fiona M Wood

doi:10.3390/biomedicines8050101

The Role of IL-6 in Skin Fibrosis and Cutaneous Wound Healing

Biomedicines. 2020 Apr 30;8(5):101. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8050101.

Authors

Blair Z Johnson¹, Andrew W Stevenson¹, Cecilia M Prêle^{1

2}, Mark W Fear¹, Fiona M Wood^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
² Institute for Respiratory Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
³ WA Department of Health, 189 Royal St, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia.

Abstract

The timely resolution of wound healing is critical for restoring the skin as a protective barrier. The switch from a proinflammatory to a reparative microenvironment must be tightly regulated. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a key modulator of the inflammatory and reparative process: it is involved in the differentiation, activation, and proliferation of leukocytes, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. This review examines the role of IL-6 in the healing of cutaneous wounds, and how dysregulation of IL-6 signaling can lead to either fibrosis or a failure to heal. The role of an IL-6/TGF-β feedback loop is discussed in the context of fibrogenesis, while IL-6 expression and responses in advanced age, diabetes, and obesity is outlined regarding the development of chronic wounds. Current research on therapies that modulate IL-6 is explored. Here, we consider IL-6's diverse impact on cutaneous wound healing.

Keywords: IL-6; fibrosis; skin; wounds.

Publication types

Review