Method for inhibiting a microvascular complication by administering IL-6
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to the use of IL-6 or a fragment, variant, fusion protein, functional derivative or salt thereof in microvascular complications.
1. A method for inhibiting or reducing a microvascular complication selected from the group consisting of diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy and diabetes-independent peripheral neuropathy, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of IL-6, soluble IL-6R/IL-6 chimera, or a fusion protein comprising IL-6 and an immunoglobulin (Ig), or salt thereof, optionally together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to inhibit or to reduce the microvascular complication, with the proviso that the microvascular complication is not diabetic neuropathy.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein IL-6 is administered by subcutaneous route.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microvascular complication is diabetic retinopathy.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microvascular complication is diabetic nephropathy.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microvascular complication is diabetes-independent peripheral neuropathy and is due to chronic hypoxia.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microvascular complication is diabetes-independent peripheral neuropathy and is due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microvascular complication is accompanied by hypertension.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microvascular complication is accompanied by ulcer.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the IL-6 administered is recombinant.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein soluble IL-6R/IL-6 chimera is administered.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the IL-6 administered is glycosylated at one or more sites.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the IL-6 administered is not glycosylated.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a fusion protein comprising IL-6 and an immunoglobulin is administered.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of IL-6, soluble IL-6R/IL-6 chimera, or a fusion protein comprising IL-6 and an immunoglobulin (Ig) is selected from the range of about 2 to 3 mcg/kg, 1 to 3 mcg/kg, and 0.2 to 0.6 mcg/kg.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the effective amount is selected from about 3 mcg/kg, 2 mcg/kg, 1 mcg/kg, 0.6 mcg/kg and 0.2 mcg/kg.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the effective amount is selected from the range of 140 to 210, 70 to 210, and 14 to 42 mcg per patient.
17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the IL-6 is administered three times per week.