Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers improve systemic inflammation however, their inconsistent effects on lipid metabolism and drug-induced liver injuries warrant further investigation. This study aimed to determine the effects of IL-6 receptor blocker therapy on lipid metabolism and liver morphology in collagen-induced arthritis. Methods: Methods: Sixty-three Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (n=24), inflammation (n=24), and IL-6 blocker (n=15) groups. Inflammation was induced in the inflammation and IL-6-blocker groups using Bovine type-II collagen and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant. At first signs of arthritis, the IL-6 blocker group received an IL-6 blocker, tocilizumab for six weeks. Serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and ATP-binding cassette transporter-A1 (ABCA1) were measured. Liver fibrosis was determined by histological stains and liver enzymes were measured using the colorimetric-chemistry analyzer. Results: In the inflammation group, HDL-C and ABCA1 were reduced compared to control (p<0.0001 and p=0.04, respectively) and IL-6 blocker (p=0.0003 and p<0.0001, respectively) groups. LDL-C was increased in the inflammation compared to control (p=0.02). Markers of liver fibrosis were increased in the IL-6 blocker group compared to control and inflammation groups (picrosirius red collagen area fraction: p<0.0001 and p=0.0008, respectively; Masson’s trichrome collagen area fraction: p=0.0002 and p=0.01, respectively). Alkaline phosphatase concentrations were increased in the IL-6 blocker group compared to the control (p<0.0001) and inflammation (p=0.002) groups. Conclusion: IL-6 blockers ameliorated inflammation-induced lipid metabolism impairments, however they induced liver fibrosis. Although IL-6 blockers may reduce inflammation-induced metabolic impairments in chronic inflammatory disorders, routine monitoring of liver function is warranted while on treatment.
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