Interleukin-10 downregulates the intracerebral immune response in chronic Toxoplasma encephalitis.
The expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 in the normal and Toxoplasma gondii-infected murine brain was analysed. Microglia/macrophages expressed IL-10 at the mRNA and protein level in the normal brain. In Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE), CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells also contributed to the upregulated IL-10 production. Neutralization of endogenous IL-10 in chronic TE reduced the intracerebral parasitic load and increased the number of immune cells and the production of protective cytokines. These findings indicate that intracerebral expression of IL-10 interferes with the immune response in TE and may contribute to parasite persistence in the brain.
Deckert-Schlüter
M
M
Institut für Neuropathologie, Universitätskliniken Bonn, Germany.
Buck
C
C
Weiner
D
D
Kaefer
N
N
Rang
A
A
Hof
H
H
Wiestler
O D
OD
Schlüter
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000276:immunology*
D016753:Interleukin-10