Interleukin 11 protects bone marrow mitochondria from radiation damage

Interleukin 11 (IL-11) is a multifunctional cytokine isolated from bone marrow (BM)-derived stromal cells that promotes hematopoiesis and prolongs the life span of lethally irradiated animals. However, the underlying mechanism for the protective effect of IL-11 on BM is unclear. In this study, we explored the effect of IL-11 on irradiated BM cells. Freshly harvested BM cells were pretreated with 20 ng/ml of recombinant IL-11 for 30 min, irradiated with a dose of 0.5 Gy, cultured for 24 h, and then subjected to several assays. In vitro data showed that, as compared to the vehicle controls, IL-11: (1) reduced the production of reactive oxygen species; (2) reduced the alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential; (3) increased MitoTracker staining, suggesting that the number of mitochondria and their functions were better maintained; and (4) reduced apoptosis of BM cells and enhanced BM cell proliferation. In vivo studies of mice pretreated with saline or 100 μg/kg of IL-11 at 12 and 2 h before 10-Gy total body irradiation (TBI) demonstrated that G-CSF and IL-6 were significantly upregulated, whereas IL-2 and IL-4 were reduced. We found that IL-11 protects mitochondrial functions, acts with G-CSF and IL-6 to stimulate the growth of radiation-damaged BM, and reduces the immune response to radiation injury.