PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF INTERLEUKIN-11 IN A MURINE MODEL OF ISCHEMIC BOWEL NECROSIS

The present study examined the effect of interleukin-11 (IL-11) in a m urine model of bowel ischemia (BI). Prophylactic IL-11 administration in BI mice (induced by occluding the superior mesenteric artery for 90 min) was associated with significantly decreased morbidity and mortal ity. IL-11-treated mice demonstrated rapid recovery of intestinal muco sa as evidenced by an increase in mitotic activity and suppression of apoptosis in intestinal crypt cells as well as increased peripheral pl atelet and leukocyte counts primarily due to an increase in peripheral lymphocyte number in BI mice. In contrast to vehicle-treated mice, wh ich uniformly developed thrombocytopenia after ischemic injury, no IL- 11-treated BI mice developed thrombocytopenia during the experimental period. These data suggest a role for IL-11 in the treatment of gastro intestinal mucosal diseases due to a wide variety of causative injurie s.