Single-cell analysis reframes VEGF pathogenesis: plasma cells produce IL-6, not VEGF

Isshiki et al. (2022) used single-cell RNA-Seq to show POEMS clonal plasma cells do not directly upregulate VEGF mRNA. Instead, they overexpress IL-6, which induces VEGF production in bystander cells. This reframes the pathogenic cascade and suggests IL-6 as an upstream therapeutic target.