Interleukin-10 does not mediate inhalational tolerance in a chronic model of ovalbumin-induced allergic airway disease.
OBJECTIVE
IL-10 is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, and IL-10-producing regulatory T cells are effective inhibitors of murine asthmatic responses. This study determined whether IL-10-dependent mechanisms mediated the local inhalational tolerance seen with chronic inhalational exposure to antigen.


METHODS
Wildtype and IL-10(-/-) mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and then challenged with daily OVA inhalations for 10 days or 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The 10-day animals developed allergic airway disease, characterized by BAL eosinophilia, histologic airway inflammation and mucus secretion, methacholine hyperresponsiveness, and OVA-specific IgE production. These changes were more pronounced in IL-10(-/-) mice. The 6-week IL-10(-/-) and wildtype animals both developed inhalational tolerance, with resolution of airway inflammation but persistence of OVA-specific IgE production.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-10 may have anti-inflammatory effects in the acute stage of murine allergic airways disease, but the cytokine does not mediate the development of local inhalational tolerance with chronic antigen exposure.
Kabbur
Prakash M
PM
Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, USA.
Carson
William F
WF
Guernsey
Linda
L
Secor
Eric R
ER
Thrall
Roger S
RS
Schramm
Craig M
CM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*
D000336:Aerosols; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin