title: Functional characterization of human IL-10.
abstract: Rapid progress has been made over the past two years in the characterization of the biological activities of interleukin-10. Interleukin-10, produced by T cells, B cells, macrophages/monocytes and keratinocytes, alters profoundly the morphology, the expression of MHC class II antigens and the production of cytokines by monocytes which in turn can affect a variety of immunological responses including antigen specific proliferation and cytokine production of both soluble and allo-antigens by T cells, cytokine production by natural killer cells and immunoglobulin production by B cells. IL-10 also directly affects the function and growth of T cells, B cells and mast cells. These characteristics indicate that IL-10 has strong anti-inflammatory activities and may act as a general suppressor factor of immune reactions with consequences for transplantation, tolerance, cancer therapy and infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Immunology, DNAX Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Palo Alto, Calif. 94304-1104.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spits
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Waal Malefyt
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014764:Viral Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E