Osteoarthritis and chronic pain: Interleukin-6 as a common denominator and therapeutic target.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and problematic disorder that is often associated with chronic pain, a combination that renders OA a leading cause of physical disability and an unmet clinical challenge. In this issue of , Liao show that interleukin-6 is a driver of both joint tissue degradation and pain, revealing a common culprit and a possible comprehensive target of therapeutic intervention.