INTERLEUKIN-11 ENHANCES GASTROINTESTINAL ABSORPTION OF IRON IN RATS

The effect of parenteral administration of IL-11 on gastrointestinal i ron absorption was evaluated. A significant increase in the absorption of Fe-59-tagged food iron fed to fasting rats was observed when two s ubcutaneous injections of IL-11 were given 48 and 24h prior to testing . Relatively similar increases of 25% were observed with IL-11 doses o f 300, 600 and 1000 mu g/kg for each injection. The increase in absorp tion did not appear to be related to changes in erythropoiesis. These findings raise the possibility that the enhanced absorption of iron wh ich occurs with ineffective erythropoiesis may in part be mediated by multifunctional haemopoietic growth factors.