Interleukin-10.
In the three years since its discovery, the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been implicated as an important regulator of the functions of lymphoid and myeloid cells. IL-10's ability to block activation of cytokine synthesis and several accessory cell functions of macrophage renders this cytokine a potent suppressor of the effector functions of macrophages, T cells, and NK cells. In addition, IL-10 likely contributes to regulating proliferation and differentiation of B cells, mast cells, and thymocytes. The Epstein-Barr virus genome encodes a homolog of IL-10 (BCFR1, viral IL-10, vIL-10) which shares many of the cellular cytokine's biological activities and may therefore play a role in the host-virus interaction. This article reviews current studies of IL-10's biological activities and discusses its possible roles in regulation of immune responses.
Department of Immunology, DNAX Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Palo Alto, California 94304.
K W
KW
Moore
A
A
O'Garra
R
R
de Waal Malefyt
P
P
Vieira
T R
TR
Mosmann
D000818:Animals; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology
D016753:Interleukin-10