Recombinant interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) is expressed in yeast, then isolated from aerobic fermentation media by precipitation, solubilization of the precipitate in the presence of a denaturant, and renaturation of the solubilized protein. Renatured rhIL-11 is further purified by cation exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography to provide a highly purified rhIL-11 with high biological activity and low rhIL-11 dimer and oxidized rhIL-11 content.

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

An antibody or an antigen-binding fragment can specifically recognize IL-11 thereof. The antibody contains CDR sequence(s) selected from at least one of the following or an amino acid sequence having at least 95% identity thereto: heavy chain variable region CDR sequences: SEQ ID NOs: 1-33 and light chain variable region CDR sequences: SEQ ID NOs: 34-66. The antibody can specifically target and bind to IL-11, so as to block binding of IL-11 and an IL-11 receptor.

Methods of treating and preventing hepatotoxicity 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.

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.

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 TGFβ 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 TGFβ 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 TGFβ pathway to a patient for short-term and/or long-term in vivo repopulation benefits.

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.

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.

Recombinant IL-11 is expressed in yeast, then isolated from aerobic fermentation media by precipitation, solubilization of the precipitate in the presence of a denaturant, and renaturation of the solubilized protein. Renatured rhIL-11 is further purified by cation exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography to provide a highly purified rhIL-11 with high biological activity and low rhIL-11 dimer and oxidized rhIL-11 content.