Interleukin-6: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives in Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia with a multifactorial pathophysiology involving electrical, structural, and autonomic remodeling of the atria. AF is closely associated with elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, which contribute to atrial remodeling and the progression of AF. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which IL-6 promotes AF through inflammatory pathways, atrial fibrosis, electrical remodeling, and calcium mishandling. Experimental models have demonstrated that IL-6 neutralization reduces the incidence of AF, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Future studies should focus on IL-6 blockade strategies to manage AF, aiming to improve patient outcomes.

Keywords

Interleukin-6 / Atrial fibrillation / Inflammation / Atrial remodeling / Therapeutic targets

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Huazhong University of Science and Technology 2025

Author Contributions Yi-mei Du, Qian Dong, and Jin-fang Yu drafted the main manuscript text, and Jin-fang Yu prepared Figs. 1 and 2. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Funding This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82170326 and No. 82470328 to Y.D., No. 82100339 to Q.D.).

Data Availability All data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper.

Declarations

Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate This review relies solely on analysis of existing literature and does not include new experimental research; therefore, ethical approval and participant consent are not required.

Human Ethics This review relies solely on analysis of existing literature and does not include new experimental research; therefore, ethical approval and participant consent are not required.

Consent for Publication We collectively agree to submit this paper for publication in Current Medical Science and confirm that it has not been submitted to any other journal.

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