Use of interleukin-11 to treat gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

The use of interleukin-11 to prevent, to ameliorate, and to treat a gastrointestinal disorder in a mammal in need of such treatment is disclosed.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a gastrointestinal motility disorder in a mammal which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of interleukin-11.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of interleukin-11 comprises 1 to 1000 μg/kg body weight.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interleukin-11 is administered daily until improvement of the disorder is observed.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interleukin-11 is administered daily until remission of the disorder is observed.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gastrointestinal motility disorder is gastroesophageal reflux disease.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gastrointestinal motility disorder is post-operative adynamic ileus.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a preterm infant and the gastrointestinal motility disorder is intolerance to oral feeding.  
     
     
         8 . A method of preventing the onset of a gastrointestinal motility disorder in a mammal which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of interleukin-11.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of interleukin-11 comprises 1 to 1000 μg/kg body weight.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the gastrointestinal motility disorder is selected from the group consisting of: gastrointestinal reflux diseas, post-operative adynamic ileus and intolerance to oral feeding.  
     
     
         11 . A method of increasing the plasma concentration of motilin in a mammal which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of interlueikin-11.  
     
     
         12 . A method of increasing the tissue concentration of motilin in the duodenal mucosa of a mammal which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of interleukin-11.  
     
     
         13 . A method of improving the contractile parameters of the neuromuscular layer of the gut wall of a mammal afflicted iwth colitis which comprises administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of interleukin-11.