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. 1995 Mar;63(3):1130–1133. doi: 10.1128/iai.63.3.1130-1133.1995

Interleukin-10 downregulates protective immunity to Brucella abortus.

D M Fernandes 1, C L Baldwin 1
PMCID: PMC173122  PMID: 7868238

Abstract

In vivo neutralization of interleukin-10 (IL-10) with an anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody resulted in up to 10-fold fewer bacteria in the spleens of BALB/c mice infected with the virulent Brucella abortus strain 2308. In vitro neutralization of endogenous IL-10 in brucella antigen-stimulated cultures of splenocytes from infected mice resulted in increased gamma interferon production in these cultures, whereas exogenous recombinant IL-10 inhibited the ability of peptone-elicited peritoneal macrophages to control intracellular brucellae. These data suggest that IL-10 may be downregulating the immune response to B. abortus by affecting both macrophage effector function and the production of the protective Th1 cytokine gamma interferon.

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Selected References

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