Objective:To investigate the effects of IL-11 on mouse liver warm ischemia/reperfusion (WI/Rp) injury. Methods: A total of 20 healthy male C57BL/6 mice, weighing (22 ± 3) g, were randomly divided into four main experimental groups (n=5 each), including normal group, sham group, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, and IL-11 pretreatment group. We chose a nonfatal model of 70% liver WI/Rp (treated with 1 h ischemia ,and then 6 h reperfusion). The mice of I/R group were injected with PBS, and IL-11 pretreatment group with IL-11, at 2 h before operation. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Histological haema (HE) stained sections were histopathologically examined using light microscopy. Results: The liver enzyme levels were significantly increased in the I/R and IL-11 pretreatment group, compared to those in the normal and sham group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the transaminase levels in the IL-11 pretreatment group were significantly reduced compared to those in the I/R group (ALT:P=0.003,and AST:P < 0.001, respectively). Liver cell hydropic and acidophilic degeneration were increased in the I/R and IL-11 pretreatment group, compared to those in the normal and sham group. Besides, the cell hydropic and acidophilic degeneration in the IL-11 pretreatment group was significantly reduced, compared to that in the I/R group. The expressions of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α of blood serum and liver tissue were reduced in the IL-11 pretreatment group, compared to those in the I/R group (P=0.0025, P=0.0159, P=0.0175, P=0.0076, P=0.0005, and P=0.0004, respectively). Conclusions: Pretreatment with IL-11 protects mouse livers from WI/Rp injury by suppressing the expressions of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α.