title: Interferon-alpha stimulates production of interleukin-10 in activated CD4+ T cells and monocytes.
abstract: In the present study, we investigated the effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA and protein synthesis in human monocytes and CD4+ T cells. In mononuclear cells, IFN-alpha induced expression of IL-10 mRNA and further enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IL-10 expression. In purified monocytes, a strong expression of IL-10 mRNA induced by LPS was not further enhanced by IFN-alpha. In highly purified CD4+ T cells, IFN-alpha upregulated IL-10 mRNA upon activation with phytohemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate. In purified monocytes, an effect of IFN-alpha on IL-10 protein synthesis was dependent on costimulation with LPS. Maximal stimulation of IL-10 protein by IFN-alpha was seen after prolonged incubation periods of 48 to 96 hours, whereas IFN-gamma reduced IL-10 production in the early incubation period. Similar effects of IFN-alpha were observed in CD4+ T cells activated with CD3 and CD28 monoclonal antibodies. Addition of IFN-alpha caused an increase of IL-10 in culture supernatants of activated T-helper cells of more than 100% after 96 hours of incubation. In contrast, other cytokines, including IFN-gamma and IL-4, had no influence on IL-10 secretion stimulated by CD3 and CD28 in CD4+ T cells. In serum samples of IFN-alpha-treated individuals, we failed to detect an influence of cytokine treatment on IL-10 serum levels, confirming the requirement of additional activating signals for IFN-alpha-mediated effects on IL-10 synthesis. In conclusion, IFN-alpha enhances the late induction of IL-10, which physiologically occurs upon stimulation of monocytes and T cells. Biologically, this effect might enhance the negative-feedback mechanism ascribed to IL-10, which limits inflammatory reactions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Third Department of Medicine, The Johannes Gutenberg University School of Medicine, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Aman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tretter
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eisenbeis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bug
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Aulitzky
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tilg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peschel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005246:Feedback; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma