INTERLEUKIN ELEVEN (IL-11) IS A THROMBOPOIETIC GROWTH FACTOR THAT DIRECTLY STIMULATES THE PROLIFERATION OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS AND MEGAKARYOCYTE PROGENITOR CELLS AND INDUCES MEGAKARYOCYTE MATURATION RESULTING IN INCREASED PLATELET PRODUCTION. IL-11 IS A MEMBER OF A FAMILY OF HUMAN GROWTH FACTORS WHICH INCLUDES HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE, GRANULOCYTE COLONYSTIMULATING FACTOR (G-CSF), AND OTHER GROWTH FACTORS.
OPRELVEKIN, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN NEUMEGA, IS PRODUCED IN ESCHERICHIA COLI (E. COLI) BY RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY.