Interleukin-10 ameliorates the outcome of Staphylococcus aureus arthritis by promoting bacterial clearance.
Staphyllococcus aureus-induced infections often result in high mortality and permanent joint destruction, despite treatment with antibiotics. IL-10 is typically regarded as an anti-inflammatory cytokine because it promotes a T helper cell type 2 response, and subsequently down-regulates cell mediated immune functions. To investigate the role of IL-10 in S. aureus-induced arthritis and sepsis, Balb/c mice, intact or defective with respect to IL-10 gene were intravenously inoculated with bacteria. IL-10-/- mice develop a more frequent and destructive arthritis compared to their congeneic controls. The mechanisms regulating such outcome may be due not only to the anti-inflammatory properties of IL-10 but also, directly or indirectly, to antibacterial features of this molecule. Indeed, inoculation of staphylococci to IL-10-/- mice resulted in higher bacterial load in blood and kidneys compared to congeneic controls. Altogether our data indicate that IL-10 is essential for efficient elimination of bacteria and thereby for protection against septic arthritis.
Gjertsson
I
I
Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden. inger.gjertsson@rheuma.gu.se
Hultgren
O H
OH
Tarkowski
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D016207:Cytokines; D016753:Interleukin-10