Interferon γ inhibits interleukin 10 production by monocytes

• Published in: The Journal of experimental medicine 1993-02, Vol.177 (2), p.523-527
• Main Authors: CHOMARAT, P, RISSOAN, M.-C, BANCHEREAU, J, MIOSSEC, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunobiology; In Vitro Techniques; Interferon-gamma - antagonists & inhibitors; Interferon-gamma - physiology; Interleukin-10 - antagonists & inhibitors; Interleukin-10 - physiology; Lymphokines, interleukins ( function, expression); Monocytes - metabolism; Regulatory factors and their cellular receptors
• ISSN: 0022-1007; 1540-9538
• DOI: 10.1084/jem.177.2.523

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) was first described for its ability to inhibit interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production. Herein, we studied the balance between IFN-gamma and IL-10 production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan (SAC) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Monocyte depletion reduced IL-10 production by 90% and resulted in an increased IFN-gamma production. Addition of anti-IL-10 antibody to PBMC cultures also strongly increased IFN-gamma production. In contrast, among various cytokines, only IFN-gamma strongly reduced IL-10 synthesis by SAC- or LPS-activated PBMC and monocytes. Thus, IFN-gamma has proinflammatory effects through the combination of two mechanisms: (a) induction of early tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1 beta synthesis; and (b) inhibition of the delayed production of IL-10, an inhibitor of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta synthesis. Taken together, the present data indicate that IFN-gamma and IL-10 antagonize each other's production and function.