Interleukin-11 improves survival and reduces bacterial translocation and bone marrow suppression in burned mice

Major burns are associated with a high mortality, an increased rate of bacterial translocation, and bone marrow suppression. This study evaluates the effect of interleukin-11 (IL-11), a bone marrow-derived growth factor on survival, intestinal cytoarchitecture, bacterial translocation, and bone marrow suppression in a highly lethal murine burn model with a lethal dose greater than 50.

C3H/HeJ 8 to 10-week-old mice underwent a standardized 32% total body surface area (TBSA) scald burn using a burn template. Mice were divided equally between groups receiving IL-11 (125 micrograms/kg, twice daily, subcutaneously [SC]) and 0.1% same-volume Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) (0.2 mL, twice daily, sc). Animals were evaluated for mesenteric lymph node bacterial counts, intestinal mucosal villus height, number of mucosal crypt cell mitoses per 100 crypts, and peripheral platelet and total lymphocyte counts. Survival was calculated to 7 days postburn.

At 24 hours postburn, IL-11-treated mice had significantly less enteric bacteria cultured from mesenteric lymph nodes (P < .001), increased intestinal crypt cell mitoses (P = .002) and intestinal villus height (P = .002), increased peripheral platelet (P = .002) and lymphocyte counts (P = .004), and an improved survival compared with BSA controls (P = .003).

These data show that IL-11 improves survival, intestinal cytoarchitecture, reduces bacterial translocation, and reduces bone marrow suppression after a 32% TBSA burn in mice. These data imply that IL-11 cytokine therapy may be a useful adjunct in extensive burn injury.