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Interleukin-11

Biological Activity and Clinical Studies

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Summary

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a cytokine which interacts with a variety of haemopoietic and non-haemopoietic cell types. Recombinant human IL-11 (rhIL-11; oprelvekin) is produced in Escherichia coli and differs from the naturally occurring protein only in the absence of the amino-terminal proline residue.

In synergy with other factors, rhIL-11 stimulates the growth of myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocyte progenitor cells in vitro. In vivo, rhIL-11 is active in mice, rats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters and non-human primates, where the principal activity measured was stimulation of megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. rhIL-11 has shown benefit in 2 clinical trials by significantly reducing severe chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

In addition to its thrombopoietic activity, rhIL-11 has also shown activity in models of acute gastrointestinal mucosal damage. rhIL-11 enhanced survival in mice following cytoablative therapy and in a hamster model of chemotherapyinduced oral mucositis, where treatment with rhIL-11 was associated with decreased mucosal damage, accelerated healing and reduced numbers of deaths. rhIL-11 is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced mucositis.

In rat models of acute colonic injury and inflammatory bowel disease, rhIL-11 treatment reduced intestinal mucosal damage and alleviated clinical signs. rhIL-11 has direct effects on activated macrophages to reduce the production of proinflammatory mediators. In animal models of endotoxaemia, rhIL-11 treatment reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and blocked hypotension. rhIL-11 increased survival in models of Gram-negative sepsis and toxic shock. Based on these studies, rhIL-11 is currently in clinical trials for treatment of Crohn’s disease. Other inflammatory conditions are being further evaluated.

Mechanistically, rhIL-11 functions at many levels to control inflammation, ameliorate tissue damage and maintain haemostasis in the face of trauma or infection. rhIL-11 has direct effects on hepatocytes, inducing the production of acute phase reactant proteins, haem oxygenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). TIMP-1 expression can also be induced in synoviocytes and chondrocytes by treatment with rhIL-11. rhIL-11 administration has been associated with increased plasma levels of von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen.

rhIL-11 treatment potentially offers multiple benefits for cancer chemotherapy patients, such as prevention of thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal epithelial protection and subsequent reduction of mucositis, and amelioration of inflammatory complications. In addition, rhIL-11 is being evaluated further in the treatment of inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis.

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  1. Department of Preclinical Research and Development, Genetics Institute Inc., One Burtt Road, Andover, Massachusetts, 01810, USA

    Andrew J. Dorner, Samuel J. Goldman &  James C. Keith Jr

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  1. Andrew J. Dorner
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  2. Samuel J. Goldman
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  3. James C. Keith Jr
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Correspondence to James C. Keith Jr.

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Dorner, A.J., Goldman, S.J. & Keith, J.C. Interleukin-11. BioDrugs 8, 418–429 (1997). https://doi.org/10.2165/00063030-199708060-00002

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