Table 1.

The mechanisms of action by interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) that aid the deviation of the immune system as observed during allergen-specific immunotherapy

IL-10	TGF-β
Suppresses allergen-specific IgE	Suppresses allergen-specific IgE
Induces allergen-specific IgG4	Induces allergen-specific IgA
Blocks B7/CD2c costimulatory pathway	Suppresses allergen-specific Th1 and Th2 cells
Inhibits DC maturation, leading to reduced MHC class II	Down-regulates FcεRI expression on Langerhans cells and costimulatory ligand expression
Reduces release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by mast cells	Associated with CTLA-4 expression on T cells

IgE, immunoglobulin E; DC, dendritic cell; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; Th1, T helper type 1; CTLA-4, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4.