Interleukin‐11: Its Biology and Prospects for Clinical Use

Abstract
IL-11 is a multifunctional cytokine that has pleiotropic effects on a variety of tissue including the bone marrow and intestinal mucosa. IL-11 is useful in elevating the platelet count in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and has a cytoprotective effect on the bowel mucosa in a variety of causes of gut damage and a trophic effect on the villi after massive bowel resection. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 23:S67-S69, 1999)