Clinical value of blocking IL-6 receptor. 
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates inflammatory response and immune reaction.  Overproduction of IL-6 is pathologically involved in inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and therefore, blocking IL-6 activity is one of therapeutic options for these diseases.  Tocilizumab is a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody and inhibits IL-6 activity.  There is now accumulating evidence that tocilizumab is therapeutically effective for patients with RA and other inflammatory autoimmune diseases.  This article reviews the clinical value of blocking IL-6R. Tocilizumab, as monotherapy and in combination with methotrexate, has been shown to be effective for RA patients with insufficient efficacy to methotrexate or other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.  These findings of tocilizumab have been expanded to patients refractory to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.  Tocilizumab also retards the progression of structural joint damage.  Furthermore, a 5-year long-term safety and efficacy has been shown.  Tocilizumab is also a promising therapeutic option for other rheumatic diseases such as systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, adult-onset Still's disease, and Takayasu arteritis.  Blocking IL-6R with tocilizumab represents a promising new treatment for RA and other inflammatory diseases.  Large registry data will warrant the safety profile of tocilizumab.