title: Interleukin-10 expression and function in experimental murine liver inflammation and fibrosis.
abstract: Kupffer cells (KC) play a central role in the initiation and perpetuation of hepatic inflammation, which, if uncontrolled, can result in tissue damage, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) can inhibit a range of macrophage functions. We hypothesized that the transcription, synthesis, and release of IL-10 may influence the development of liver injury. Rat KC were activated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and expression of IL-10 mRNA compared with IL-13 and IL-1beta by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of pretreatment with recombinant IL-10 (rIL-10) on KC phagocytosis, production of superoxide (SO), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) were examined by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS), reduction of ferricytochrome C, and bioassay, respectively. Rats were administered intraperitoneal carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and expression of IL-10 mRNA and protein in vivo compared with IL-13 and IL-1beta by RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Results were correlated with histological inflammatory changes. Finally, IL-10 gene-deleted (IL-10-/-) mice and wild-type (WT) controls were administered intraperitoneal CCl4 biweekly for up to 70 days, and the development of inflammation and fibrosis compared by scoring histological changes. IL-10 mRNA was up-regulated early, both in KC in vitro and in whole liver in vivo, concurrent with that of IL-1beta. IL-10 was able to inhibit KC production of both SO and TNF- in vitro, and this was achieved more effectively than IL-4 or IL-13; no such effects were seen on KC phagocytosis. After 70 days of treatment with CCl4, IL-10-/- mice showed significantly more severe fibrosis and exhibited higher hepatic TNF- levels than WT controls. These results suggest that IL-10 synthesized during the course of liver inflammation and fibrosis may modulate KC actions, and influence subsequent progression of fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of University Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maltby
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fallowfield
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McAulay
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Millward-Sadler
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sheron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride