It was initially thought to be important for hematopoiesis, notably for megakaryocyte maturation,[7] but subsequently shown to be redundant for platelets, and for other blood cell types, in both mice and humans.

[10] Signal transduction is initiated upon binding of IL-11 to IL-11Rα and gp130, facilitating the formation of higher order structures involving dimers of gp130:Il-11:Il11RA complexes.

[14] IL-11 through its binding to its transmembrane IL-11Rα receptor and resultant activation of downstream signaling pathways has been thought to regulate adipogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, neurogenesis and platelet maturation.

[15] IL-11 has been demonstrated to improve platelet recovery after chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, induce acute phase proteins, modulate antigen-antibody responses, participate in the regulation of bone cell proliferation and differentiation IL-11 causes bone-resorption.

This process is highly regulated due to detrimental consequences that can arise from aberrations of the placentation process: poor infiltration of trophoblasts may result in preeclampsia, while severely invasive trophoblasts may resolve in placenta accreta, increta or percreta; all defects that most likely would result in the early demise of the embryo and/or negative effects upon the mother.

[citation needed] A recombinant form of IL-11, oprelvekin, is a protein therapeutic used for the prevention of severe thrombocytopenia in cancer patients.