Researchers identify IL-11 as new target for cardiovascular fibrosis

A study published in Nature by researchers at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and colleagues showed that inhibiting IL-11 prevented fibroblast activation in cardiac tissues, suggesting a new target to treat cardiovascular fibrosis.

While transforming growth factor (TGF) beta 1 (TGFB1) is the principal pro-fibrotic factor, inhibiting TGFB1 has been associated with adverse effects. Targeting downstream effectors of TGFB1 in fibroblasts instead could help avoid upstream toxicities...