Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-11 is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines and is involved in multiple cellular responses, including tumor development. However, the origin and functions of IL-11-producing (IL-11+) cells are not fully understood. To characterize IL-11+ cells in vivo, we generate Il11 reporter mice. IL-11+ cells appear in the colon in murine tumor and acute colitis models. Il11ra1 or Il11 deletion attenuates the development of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. IL-11+ cells express fibroblast markers and genes associated with cell proliferation and tissue repair. IL-11 induces the activation of colonic fibroblasts and epithelial cells through phosphorylation of STAT3. Human cancer database analysis reveals that the expression of genes enriched in IL-11+ fibroblasts is elevated in human colorectal cancer and correlated with reduced recurrence-free survival. IL-11+ fibroblasts activate both tumor cells and fibroblasts via secretion of IL-11, thereby constituting a feed-forward loop between tumor cells and fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenoma / genetics
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Adenoma / immunology*
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Adenoma / mortality
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Adenoma / surgery
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Animals
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Colitis / chemically induced
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Colitis / immunology
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Colitis / pathology*
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Colon / cytology
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Colon / immunology
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Colon / pathology
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Colon / surgery
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Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
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Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology*
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Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
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Colorectal Neoplasms / surgery
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Dextran Sulfate / administration & dosage
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Dextran Sulfate / toxicity
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Disease Models, Animal
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Disease-Free Survival
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Female
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Fibroblasts / immunology*
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Fibroblasts / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / immunology
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Gene Knockdown Techniques
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Genes, Reporter
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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Humans
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Interleukin-11 / genetics
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Interleukin-11 / metabolism*
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Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit / genetics
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Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
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Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
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Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
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Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
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Kaplan-Meier Estimate
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Mice, Transgenic
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Middle Aged
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Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / epidemiology*
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Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / immunology
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Organoids
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Primary Cell Culture
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Retrospective Studies
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Transcriptome / immunology
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Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
Substances
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IL11 protein, human
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Il11ra1 protein, mouse
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Interleukin-11
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Interleukin-11 Receptor alpha Subunit
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enhanced green fluorescent protein
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Dextran Sulfate