Interleukin 11 (IL-11) is a pleiotropic cytokine with effects on various tissues including the bone marrow, brain, and intestinal mucosa. It belongs to the IL-6 family of cytokines that share a common signal transducer, gp130. IL-11 induces the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocytic progenitor cells, the maturation of megakaryocytes, and the production of platelets. IL-11 also plays a role in cancer progression by inducing the proliferation of epithelial cancer cells and the survival of metastatic cells at distant organs.
