Description
Cytokine that stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocyte progenitor cells and induces megakaryocyte maturation resulting in increased platelet production (PubMed:8913282). Also promotes the proliferation of hepatocytes in response to liver damage (PubMed:22253262). Binding to its receptor formed by IL6ST and either IL11RA1 or IL11RA2 activates a signaling cascade that promotes cell proliferation, also in the context of various cancers (PubMed:10026196, PubMed:23948300). Signaling leads to the activation of intracellular protein kinases and the phosphorylation of STAT3 (PubMed:23948300, PubMed:22253262)