Differential expression of interleukin-10 mRNA in Wallerian degeneration and immune-mediated inflammation of the rat peripheral nervous system.
Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent immunosuppressant cytokine which downregulates MHC class II antigen expression and inflammatory cytokine production. In this study we localized mRNA for IL-10 in the rat peripheral nervous system (PNS) by nonradioactive in situ hybridization using a digoxygenin-labeled riboprobe specific for rat IL-10. IL-10 mRNA was expressed by some Schwann cells (SCs) in the normal sciatic nerve. During Wallerian degeneration, SCs strongly expressed IL-10 mRNA between days 2 and 4 after transection. By day 14 only occasional cells were positive for IL-10 mRNA. The vast majority of ED1-positive macrophages were IL-10 negative after axotomy. Contrastingly, infiltrating macrophages expressed IL-10 mRNA conincident with beginning clinical recovery in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), the rat model of human Guillain-Barré syndrome. Our data suggest that SCs provide a constitutive immunosuppressant system in the PNS. In EAN additional macrophage-derived IL-10 may be important for the resolution of the T cell-mediated immune response.
Jander
S
S
Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Pohl
J
J
Gillen
C
C
Stoll
G
G
D000818:Animals; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009443:Neuritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects*
D015342:DNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10