title: Interleukin-10: A complex role in the pathogenesis of sepsis syndromes and its potential as an anti-inflammatory drug.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-10 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by both T cells and macrophages and possesses both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. IL-10 circulates in the blood of patients with sepsis syndromes, and increased concentrations of IL-10 have been associated with an adverse clinical outcome. Experimental studies in rodents and primates have demonstrated that endogenously produced and exogenously administered IL-10 can reduce the magnitude of the inflammatory response and improve outcome, primarily in models of endotoxemic and bacteremic shock. However, endogenous IL-10 production and systemic administration can also exacerbate T-cell dysfunction, decrease T-cell apoptosis, reduce antimicrobial function, and increase mortality in other less acute bacterial models of sepsis or after thermal injury. Targeted delivery of IL-10 to individual tissues may obviate the adverse effects of systemic delivery. The potential anti-inflammatory properties of IL-10 will have to be carefully weighed against its immunosuppressive properties when considering its use in patients with acute inflammation and sepsis syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (LLM), University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL; and the Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery (AO, CO), University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oberholzer
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oberholzer
authors.forename: Lyle L.
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Moldawer