title: IL-10 up-regulates human monocyte phagocytosis in the presence of IL-4 and IFN-gamma.
abstract: Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cytokine produced by type 2 helper T (Th2) cells, inhibits the microbicidal effector function of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-activated macrophages. However, recent observations indicate that IL-10, like IFN-gamma, increases Fc gamma RI expression and Fc gamma R-mediated cytotoxic activity on human monocytes, suggesting that this cytokine cannot be classified purely as a monocyte deactivator. The present study found that incubation for 40 h of human monocytes or monocyte-derived macrophages in the presence of IL-10 caused a significant enhancement of their capacity to ingest particles coated with immunoglobulin G (Fc gamma R-mediated ingestion) or with C3b/C3bi fragments of the complement system (CR1/CR3-mediated ingestion). The number of phagocytosing cells (% phagocytosis) and the number of ingested particles per cell (phagocytic index) were both significantly higher after 40-h incubation of monocytes with IL-10 concentrations > or = 1 U/ml. This up-regulating activity on phagocytosis was completely reversed by anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody (mAb). As previously reported, IL-10 stimulated Fc gamma RI expression on monocytes but did not induce the expression of Fc gamma RII, Fc gamma RIII, CR1, and CR3. IFN-gamma, like IL-10, up-regulated only Fc gamma RI expression but significantly reduced both Fc gamma R- and CR-mediated ingestion. IL-10 almost completely reversed the IFN-gamma-induced inhibition of both Fc gamma R- and CR-mediated phagocytosis, without concomitant changes in membrane expression of phagocytic receptors. Exposure of monocytes to IL-4 reduced the membrane expression of all three Fc gamma Rs and also inhibited Fc gamma R-mediated ingestion. On the other hand, IL-4 up-regulated both CR3 expression and CR-mediated ingestion on cultured monocytes. IL-10 not only neutralized the down-regulatory effect of IL-4 on Fc gamma R expression but also completely reversed the IL-4-induced suppression of Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis. Exposure of monocytes to a combination of IL-10 and IL-4 resulted in a synergistic effect on CR-mediated ingestion, even though no additive effects were observed on CR membrane expression. Finally, culture of monocytes in medium containing anti-IL-10 mAb significantly reduced their capacity to ingest IgG- or C3b/C3bi-coated particles, suggesting a role for endogenously produced IL-10 in the modulation of phagocytosis by human monocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Immunopathology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capsoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minonzio
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ongari
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carbonelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanussi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000502:physiology; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011951:Receptors, Complement; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma