Interleukin-11 and its eminent role in tissue fibrosis: A possible therapeutic target

Clin Exp Immunol. 2023 Sep 19:uxad108. doi: 10.1093/cei/uxad108. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTInterleukin-11 is a cytokine from the IL-6 family of cytokines that includes IL-6 and OSM. Initially described for its role in platelet generation, it is now appreciated that this cytokine has multiple functions. Recently it has been found that IL-11 is critical in fibrosis in multiple different organ systems and systemically as in the autoimmune disease systemic sclerosis. Animal models of fibrosis have determined that animals with IL-11 receptor deletions have retarded fibrosis and that in wild type animals IL-11 is found at the organ of fibrosis. Recent evidence suggests that IL-11 maybe a master regulator of fibrosis regardless of end target organ. With the development of neutralising antibodies targeting the cytokine in pre-clinical models this could be a possible therapeutic, in a disease in which no specific therapies exist. This review appraises the evidence of the role of IL-11 in tissue fibrosis, its signalling properties and therapeutic targeting. The review ends with an appraisal of indications for which IL-11 modulation is targeted.PMID:37724596 | DOI:10.1093/cei/uxad108
Source: Clinical and Developmental Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research