Methods are provided for producing a PEGylated interleukin 11 (IL-11) by treating a recombinant IL-11 PEGylated with an equimolar to low molar excess of PEG carrying an amine-reactive group to achieve a highly pure monoconjugate preparation, which provides improved half-life in serum while having desirable therapeutic activity and presenting fewer side-effects. Most preferably, the IL-11 is an N-terminally truncated human or humanized IL-11 and has a 20 Kd or 40 Kd branched PEG moiety, Y- or comb-shaped in particular, coupled to the N-terminal amino group. Such compounds are characterized by substantially increased stability in serum and sustained biological activity while exhibiting significantly reduced plasma expansion.

Compositions are presented that include a recombinant IL-11 PEGylated at equimolar to low molar excess of PEG to achieve a highly pure monoconjugate preparation, which provides improved half-life in serum while having desirable therapeutic activity and presenting fewer side-effects. Most preferably, the IL-11 is an N-terminally truncated human or humanized IL-11 and has a 20 Kd or 40 Kd branched PEG moiety, Y- or comb-shaped in particular, coupled to the N-terminal amino group. Such compounds are characterized by substantially increased stability in serum and sustained biological activity while exhibiting significantly reduced plasma expansion.

Methods are provided for treating an individual with a pharmaceutical preparation that includes a recombinant IL-11 PEGylated at equimolar to low molar excess of PEG to achieve a highly pure monoconjugate preparation, which provides improved half-life in serum while having desirable therapeutic activity and presenting fewer side-effects. Most preferably, the IL-11 is an N-terminally truncated human or humanized IL-11 and has a 20 Kd or 40 Kd branched PEG moiety, Y- or comb-shaped in particular, coupled to the N-terminal amino group. Such compounds are characterized by substantially increased stability in serum and sustained biological activity while exhibiting significantly reduced plasma expansion.

An IL-11 binding receptor capable of binding to IL-11 and inhibiting IL-11 mediated signalling is disclosed. Also disclosed are compositions comprising the IL-11 binding receptor and methods using the IL-11 binding receptor.

The present invention relates to methods, kits and compositions for expansion of embryonic hematopoietic stem cells and providing hematopoietic function to human patients in need thereof. In one aspect, it relates to kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist, one or more growth factors, and, optionally, an inhibitor of the TGF pathway. Also provided herein are methods for expanding embryonic hematopoietic stem cells using kits and compositions comprising a Notch agonist, one or more growth factors, and, optionally, an inhibitor of the TGF pathway. The embryonic hematopoietic stem cells expanded using the disclosed kits, compositions and methods include cells derived from an embryo (e.g., aorta-gonad-mesonephros region of the embryo), embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, or reprogrammed cells of other types. The present invention also relates to administering the embryonic hematopoietic stem cells expanded using a combination of a Notch agonist, one or more growth factors, and, optionally, an inhibitor of the TGF pathway to a patient for short-term and/or long-term in vivo repopulation benefits.

Diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of diseases and conditions associated with smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction are provided through the inhibition or IL-11-mediated signalling.

Disclosed are cysteine variants of interleukin-11 (IL-11) and methods of making and using such proteins in therapeutic applications.

Methods of treating and preventing metabolic disease through inhibiting interleukin 11 (IL-11)-mediated signalling are disclosed, as well as agents for use in such methods.

Diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of diseases and conditions associated with smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction are provided through the inhibition of IL-11-mediated signalling.

Compositions and methods are presented in which recombinant IL-11 is PEGylated to achieve improved half-life in serum while having desirable therapeutic activity and presenting less side-effects. Most preferably, the IL-11 is an N-terminally truncated human or humanized IL-11 and has a 20 Kd or 40 Kd branched PEG moiety, Y- or comb-shaped in particular, coupled to the N-terminal amino group. Such compounds are characterized by substantially increased stability in serum and sustained biological activity while exhibiting significantly reduced plasma expansion.