title: Interleukin-11 inhibits bone formation in vitro.
abstract: The effects of interleukin-11(IL-11) on the differentiation of osteoblast precursors was tested using a bone nodule forming assay in rat calvaria cell cultures. IL-11 caused a dose dependent inhibition of nodule formation, with 500 U/ml IL-11 resulting in complete inhibition of nodule formation. IL-11 also caused a reduction in alkaline phosphatase expression in these cultures. These effects are similar to, but more potent than, the actions of IL-6 on these cells. These results indicate that IL-11 is an osteotropic cytokine and suggest that IL-11 may be an important inhibitor of bone formation in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, London Hospital Medical College, UK.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Howells
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017370:Interleukin-11 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D017370:Interleukin-11