Non-linear age-related change in human Interleukin-11 and the receptor subunit alpha DNA methylation

INTRODUCTION: Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes and a previous study showed that blocking or knocking down IL11 in mice prolongs a healthy lifespan. This study investigates DNA methylation (DNAm) changes in the IL11 and IL-11 receptor subunit alpha (IL-11RA) gene across ages to explore age-related epigenetic patterns that may influence IL-11 production and pathway sensitivity. METHODS: A genome-wide DNAm database focusing on Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine (CpG) sites within the IL11 and IL11RA was analyzed. Hierarchical regression analyses examined the relationship between DNAm, age, and the squared age term for quadratic associations. RESULTS: The database comprised 10,297 samples (5156 males and 5141 females) with a mean age of 53.9 years (SD = 14.1 years). The majority of IL11 and IL11RA CpG sites in the TSS1500 and 3'UTR regions exhibited significant inverse U-shaped associations with age. DNAm levels were low during youth, increased in middle age (40s-50s), and decreased again in older age. CONCLUSION: The observed inverse U-shaped DNAm patterns in the IL11 and IL11RA suggest non-linear age-related regulation that may influence IL-11 expression and sensitivity. These findings indicate that IL-11 may have different roles across life stages and suggest that therapeutic interventions targeting IL-11 should consider age-specific effects.