IL-11 Suppresses VEGFR2 Expression and Hampers Endothelial Cell’s Wound Healing

Endothelial cells (EC) line the lumen of all blood vessels and are crucial for vascular integrity, haemeostasis, and inflammation. EC are also targets for infections such as human cytomegalovirus (hCMV), which can induce vascular injury and release of various cytokines including the closely related interleukin (IL) - 11 and IL-6. Objective. To assess the effect of IL-11 and IL-6 on wound healing by EC. Methods. We report a follow-up study of our previous work on IL-11 and IL-6 responses to hCMV where the EC’s wound healing capacity and expression of relevant gene transcripts in EC treated with IL-11 or IL-6 are assessed. Results. Treatment with IL-11, but not with IL-6, hampered the wound healing capacity, and this effect may be due to suppression of VEGF signaling caused by suppression of VEGFR2. The VEGFA levels remained unaltered. Conclusions. IL-11 hampers the regenerating wound healing capacity of EC, and this may be due to the reduced expression of VEGFR2.