SurveyA panoramic review and in silico analysis of IL-11 structure and function

•IL-11, as a multifunctional member of IL-6 cytokine family, uses GP130 receptor for signal transduction and shows partial similarity to IL-6.•Structural and mutational studies have revealed valuable information about the important regions and residues in IL-11 α-helical structure.•The main players in IL-11 signaling pathway include GP-130, IL-11Rα, JAK/STAT, ERK/RAS, mTor/PI3 K, IκB, and SOCS3.•IL-11 dysregulation may be involved in many diseases, such as cancers, inflammatory diseases, and infertility.

Human Interleukin (IL)-11 is a multifunctional cytokine, recognized for its thrombopoietic effects for more than two decades; clinically, IL-11 is used in the treatment of thrombocytopenia. IL-11 shares structural and functional similarities with IL-6, a related family member. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in IL-11, because its distinct biological activities associated with cancers of epithelial origin and inflammatory disorders have been revealed. Although the crystal structure of IL-11 was resolved more than two years, a better understanding of the mechanisms of IL-11 action is required to further extend the clinical use of IL-11. This review will discuss the available structural, functional, and bioinformatics knowledge concerning IL-11 and will summarize its relationship with several diseases.

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