IL-10 is critical in the regulation of autoimmune encephalomyelitis as demonstrated by studies of IL-10- and IL-4-deficient and transgenic mice.
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and other organ-specific autoimmune diseases are induced by autoantigen-specific Th1 cells. In contrast, transfer of autoantigen-reactive Th2 cells that produce IL-4 and IL-10 can prevent and/or reverse EAE. The relative roles of these two Th2 cytokines in the regulation of EAE has not been evaluated. Utilizing IL-4 and IL-10 knockout mice deficient for these cytokines and IL-10 and IL-4 transgenic mice overexpressing these cytokines, we demonstrate that IL-10-deficient mice (IL-10(-/-)) are more susceptible and develop a more severe EAE when compared with IL-4-deficient mice (IL-4(-/-)) or wild-type mice. T cells from IL-10(-/-) mice exhibit a stronger Ag-specific proliferation, produce more proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) when stimulated with an encephalitogenic peptide, and induce very severe EAE upon transfer into wild-type mice. In contrast, while IL-4 transgenic mice develop similar disease compared with their nontransgenic littermates, mice transgenic for IL-10 are completely resistant to the development of EAE. Taken together, our data suggest that IL-10 plays a more critical role in the regulation of EAE by regulating autopathogenic Th1 responses.
Bettelli
E
E
Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Das
M P
MP
Howard
E D
ED
Weiner
H L
HL
Sobel
R A
RA
Kuchroo
V K
VK
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000276:immunology; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation
D016207:Cytokines; C571327:Mog protein, mouse; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010455:Peptides; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4