Therapeutic Targeting of IL-11 for Chronic Lung Disease

Interleukin (IL)-11 was originally recognized as an immunomodulatory and hematopoiesis-inducing cytokine. However, although IL-11 is typically not found in healthy individuals, it is now becoming evident that IL-11 may play a role in diverse pulmonary conditions, including IPF, asthma, and lung cancer. Additionally, experimental strategies targeting IL-11, such as humanized antibodies, have recently been developed, revealing the therapeutic potential of IL-11. Thus, further insight into the underlying mechanisms of IL-11 in lung disease may lead to the ability to interfere with pathological conditions that have a clear need for disease-modifying treatments, such as IPF. In this review, we outline the effects, expression, signaling, and crosstalk of IL-11 and focus on its role in lung disease and its potential as a therapeutic target. The pleiotropic cytokine interleukin (IL)-11 is emerging as a protein involved in various pathological conditions such as fibrosis and cancer.It is becoming apparent that IL-11 also plays a role in lung diseases, which was most recently discovered in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and its cellular effects in lung pathophysiologies are starting to be revealed.IL-11 can be targeted with inhibitors that can suppress pathological processes associated with lung diseases in animal models, suggesting IL-11 may have potential as a new therapeutic target.