The multifaceted relationship between IL-10 and adaptive immunity: putting together the pieces of a puzzle.
Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a pleiotropic cytokine that modulates the function of several adaptive immunity-related cells. Although generally considered an immunosuppressive molecule, IL-10 possesses immunostimulatory properties in several in vitro and in vivo models. These very different outcomes are believed to depend upon experimental conditions, the dominant immune effector mediating a given immune response, the timing of IL-10 production/administration, and IL-10 dose and/or location of expression. In the present work, we review the current knowledge regarding IL-10 activity on adaptive immunity related cells, emphasize new insights on IL-10 molecular/cellular targets, and summarize the available data on the relationship between IL-10 and some pathological conditions (e.g. infectious diseases, autoimmunity, allergy, cancer and transplantation) involving adaptive immunity.
Mocellin
Simone
S
Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Clinica Chirurgica II, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. mocellins@hotmail.com
Marincola
Francesco
F
Rossi
Carlo Riccardo
CR
Nitti
Donato
D
Lise
Mario
M
D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D016753:Interleukin-10