Interleukin (IL)-11 is upregulated in a wide variety of fibro-inflammatory diseases such as systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, pulmonary fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, drug-induced liver injury, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. IL-11 is a member of the IL-6 cytokine family and has several distinct properties that define its unique and nonredundant roles in disease. The IL-11 receptor is highly expressed on stromal, epithelial and polarized cells, where noncanonical IL-11 signaling drives the three pathologies common to all fibro-inflammatory diseases-myofibroblast activation, parenchymal cell dysfunction, and inflammation-while also inhibiting tissue regeneration. This cytokine has been little studied, and publications on IL-11 peaked in the early 1990s, when it was largely misunderstood. Here we describe recent advances in our understanding of IL-11 biology, outline how misconceptions as to its function came about, and highlight the large potential of therapies targeting IL-11 signaling for treating human disease.

中文翻译：

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隐藏在视线中：白介素11逐渐成为纤维化，组织完整性和间质炎症的主要调节剂。

白介素（IL）-11在多种纤维炎性疾病中上调，例如系统性硬化症，类风湿性关节炎，肺纤维化，炎性肠病，肾脏疾病，药物性肝损伤和非酒精性脂肪性肝炎。IL-11是IL-6细胞因子家族的成员，并具有几种独特的特性，这些特性定义了其在疾病中的独特作用和非冗余作用。IL-11受体在间质，上皮和极化细胞上高表达，其中非规范性IL-11信号驱动所有纤维炎性疾病共有的三种病理-成纤维细胞活化，实质细胞功能障碍和炎症，同时也抑制组织再生。对该细胞因子的研究很少，关于IL-11的出版物在1990年代初达到顶峰，当时人们对其有很大的误解。