Skip to main content
The Journal of Experimental Medicine logoLink to The Journal of Experimental Medicine
. 1991 Dec 1;174(6):1549–1555. doi: 10.1084/jem.174.6.1549

Macrophage deactivation by interleukin 10

PMCID: PMC2119047  PMID: 1744584

Abstract

Recombinant mouse interleukin 10 (IL-10) was exceedingly potent at suppressing the ability of mouse peritoneal macrophages (m phi) to release tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The IC50 of IL-10 for the suppression of TNF-alpha release induced by 0.5 microgram/ml lipopolysaccharide was 0.04 +/- 0.03 U/ml, with as little as 1 U/ml suppressing TNF-alpha production by a factor of 21.4 +/- 2.5. At 10 U/ml, IL-10 markedly suppressed m phi release of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) (IC50 3.7 +/- 1.8 U/ml), but only weakly inhibited m phi release of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI). Since TNF-alpha is a T cell growth and differentiation factor, whereas ROI and RNI are known to inhibit lymphocyte function, it is possible that m phi exposed to low concentrations of IL-10 suppress lymphocytes. m phi deactivated by higher concentrations of IL-10 might be permissive for the growth of microbial pathogens and tumor cells, as TNF-alpha, ROI, and RNI are major antimicrobial and tumoricidal products of m phi. IL-10's effects on m phi overlap with but are distinct from the effects of the two previously described cytokines that suppress the function of mouse m phi, transforming growth factor beta and macrophage deactivation factor. Based on results with neutralizing antibodies, all three m phi suppressor factors appear to act independently.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (692.8 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ding A. H., Nathan C. F., Stuehr D. J. Release of reactive nitrogen intermediates and reactive oxygen intermediates from mouse peritoneal macrophages. Comparison of activating cytokines and evidence for independent production. J Immunol. 1988 Oct 1;141(7):2407–2412. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ding A., Nathan C. F., Graycar J., Derynck R., Stuehr D. J., Srimal S. Macrophage deactivating factor and transforming growth factors-beta 1 -beta 2 and -beta 3 inhibit induction of macrophage nitrogen oxide synthesis by IFN-gamma. J Immunol. 1990 Aug 1;145(3):940–944. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Drapier J. C., Wietzerbin J., Hibbs J. B., Jr Interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor induce the L-arginine-dependent cytotoxic effector mechanism in murine macrophages. Eur J Immunol. 1988 Oct;18(10):1587–1592. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830181018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Eskandari M. K., Nguyen D. T., Kunkel S. L., Remick D. G. WEHI 164 subclone 13 assay for TNF: sensitivity, specificity, and reliability. Immunol Invest. 1990 Feb;19(1):69–79. doi: 10.3109/08820139009042026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Espevik T., Figari I. S., Shalaby M. R., Lackides G. A., Lewis G. D., Shepard H. M., Palladino M. A., Jr Inhibition of cytokine production by cyclosporin A and transforming growth factor beta. J Exp Med. 1987 Aug 1;166(2):571–576. doi: 10.1084/jem.166.2.571. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Essner R., Rhoades K., McBride W. H., Morton D. L., Economou J. S. IL-4 down-regulates IL-1 and TNF gene expression in human monocytes. J Immunol. 1989 Jun 1;142(11):3857–3861. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fiorentino D. F., Bond M. W., Mosmann T. R. Two types of mouse T helper cell. IV. Th2 clones secrete a factor that inhibits cytokine production by Th1 clones. J Exp Med. 1989 Dec 1;170(6):2081–2095. doi: 10.1084/jem.170.6.2081. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fiorentino D. F., Zlotnik A., Vieira P., Mosmann T. R., Howard M., Moore K. W., O'Garra A. IL-10 acts on the antigen-presenting cell to inhibit cytokine production by Th1 cells. J Immunol. 1991 May 15;146(10):3444–3451. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gillis S., Ferm M. M., Ou W., Smith K. A. T cell growth factor: parameters of production and a quantitative microassay for activity. J Immunol. 1978 Jun;120(6):2027–2032. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Green S. J., Crawford R. M., Hockmeyer J. T., Meltzer M. S., Nacy C. A. Leishmania major amastigotes initiate the L-arginine-dependent killing mechanism in IFN-gamma-stimulated macrophages by induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. J Immunol. 1990 Dec 15;145(12):4290–4297. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hart P. H., Vitti G. F., Burgess D. R., Whitty G. A., Piccoli D. S., Hamilton J. A. Potential antiinflammatory effects of interleukin 4: suppression of human monocyte tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1, and prostaglandin E2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1989 May;86(10):3803–3807. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.10.3803. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hoffman R. A., Langrehr J. M., Billiar T. R., Curran R. D., Simmons R. L. Alloantigen-induced activation of rat splenocytes is regulated by the oxidative metabolism of L-arginine. J Immunol. 1990 Oct 1;145(7):2220–2226. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kehrl J. H., Wakefield L. M., Roberts A. B., Jakowlew S., Alvarez-Mon M., Derynck R., Sporn M. B., Fauci A. S. Production of transforming growth factor beta by human T lymphocytes and its potential role in the regulation of T cell growth. J Exp Med. 1986 May 1;163(5):1037–1050. doi: 10.1084/jem.163.5.1037. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Laemmli U. K. Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. Nature. 1970 Aug 15;227(5259):680–685. doi: 10.1038/227680a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lehn M., Weiser W. Y., Engelhorn S., Gillis S., Remold H. G. IL-4 inhibits H2O2 production and antileishmanial capacity of human cultured monocytes mediated by IFN-gamma. J Immunol. 1989 Nov 1;143(9):3020–3024. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. MacNeil I. A., Suda T., Moore K. W., Mosmann T. R., Zlotnik A. IL-10, a novel growth cofactor for mature and immature T cells. J Immunol. 1990 Dec 15;145(12):4167–4173. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Metzger Z., Hoffeld J. T., Oppenheim J. J. Macrophage-mediated suppression. I. Evidence for participation of both hdyrogen peroxide and prostaglandins in suppression of murine lymphocyte proliferation. J Immunol. 1980 Feb;124(2):983–988. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Mills C. D. Molecular basis of "suppressor" macrophages. Arginine metabolism via the nitric oxide synthetase pathway. J Immunol. 1991 Apr 15;146(8):2719–2723. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Moore K. W., Vieira P., Fiorentino D. F., Trounstine M. L., Khan T. A., Mosmann T. R. Homology of cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (IL-10) to the Epstein-Barr virus gene BCRFI. Science. 1990 Jun 8;248(4960):1230–1234. doi: 10.1126/science.2161559. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Mosmann T. R., Schumacher J. H., Fiorentino D. F., Leverah J., Moore K. W., Bond M. W. Isolation of monoclonal antibodies specific for IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and a new Th2-specific cytokine (IL-10), cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor, by using a solid phase radioimmunoadsorbent assay. J Immunol. 1990 Nov 1;145(9):2938–2945. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Nathan C. F., Hibbs J. B., Jr Role of nitric oxide synthesis in macrophage antimicrobial activity. Curr Opin Immunol. 1991 Feb;3(1):65–70. doi: 10.1016/0952-7915(91)90079-g. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Nathan C. F. Secretory products of macrophages. J Clin Invest. 1987 Feb;79(2):319–326. doi: 10.1172/JCI112815. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Nelson B. J., Ralph P., Green S. J., Nacy C. A. Differential susceptibility of activated macrophage cytotoxic effector reactions to the suppressive effects of transforming growth factor-beta 1. J Immunol. 1991 Mar 15;146(6):1849–1857. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Ranges G. E., Zlotnik A., Espevik T., Dinarello C. A., Cerami A., Palladino M. A., Jr Tumor necrosis factor alpha/cachectin is a growth factor for thymocytes. Synergistic interactions with other cytokines. J Exp Med. 1988 Apr 1;167(4):1472–1478. doi: 10.1084/jem.167.4.1472. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Scheurich P., Thoma B., Ucer U., Pfizenmaier K. Immunoregulatory activity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha: induction of TNF receptors on human T cells and TNF-alpha-mediated enhancement of T cell responses. J Immunol. 1987 Mar 15;138(6):1786–1790. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Silva J. S., Twardzik D. R., Reed S. G. Regulation of Trypanosoma cruzi infections in vitro and in vivo by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). J Exp Med. 1991 Sep 1;174(3):539–545. doi: 10.1084/jem.174.3.539. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Srimal S., Nathan C. Purification of macrophage deactivating factor. J Exp Med. 1990 Apr 1;171(4):1347–1361. doi: 10.1084/jem.171.4.1347. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Stenger S., Solbach W., Röllinghoff M., Bogdan C. Cytokine interactions in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. II. Endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by macrophages is induced by the synergistic action of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL) 4 and accounts for the antiparasitic effect mediated by IFN-gamma and IL 4. Eur J Immunol. 1991 Jul;21(7):1669–1675. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830210713. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Szuro-Sudol A., Murray H. W., Nathan C. F. Suppression of macrophage antimicrobial activity by a tumor cell product. J Immunol. 1983 Jul;131(1):384–387. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Szuro-Sudol A., Nathan C. F. Suppression of macrophage oxidative metabolism by products of malignant and nonmalignant cells. J Exp Med. 1982 Oct 1;156(4):945–961. doi: 10.1084/jem.156.4.945. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Thompson-Snipes L., Dhar V., Bond M. W., Mosmann T. R., Moore K. W., Rennick D. M. Interleukin 10: a novel stimulatory factor for mast cells and their progenitors. J Exp Med. 1991 Feb 1;173(2):507–510. doi: 10.1084/jem.173.2.507. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Towbin H., Staehelin T., Gordon J. Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets: procedure and some applications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979 Sep;76(9):4350–4354. doi: 10.1073/pnas.76.9.4350. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Tsunawaki S., Sporn M., Ding A., Nathan C. Deactivation of macrophages by transforming growth factor-beta. Nature. 1988 Jul 21;334(6179):260–262. doi: 10.1038/334260a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Tsunawaki S., Sporn M., Nathan C. Comparison of transforming growth factor-beta and a macrophage- deactivating polypeptide from tumor cells. Differences in antigenicity and mechanism of action. J Immunol. 1989 May 15;142(10):3462–3468. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wahl S. M., Hunt D. A., Wong H. L., Dougherty S., McCartney-Francis N., Wahl L. M., Ellingsworth L., Schmidt J. A., Hall G., Roberts A. B. Transforming growth factor-beta is a potent immunosuppressive agent that inhibits IL-1-dependent lymphocyte proliferation. J Immunol. 1988 May 1;140(9):3026–3032. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Yokota S., Geppert T. D., Lipsky P. E. Enhancement of antigen- and mitogen-induced human T lymphocyte proliferation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha. J Immunol. 1988 Jan 15;140(2):531–536. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. de Waal Malefyt R., Abrams J., Bennett B., Figdor C. G., de Vries J. E. Interleukin 10(IL-10) inhibits cytokine synthesis by human monocytes: an autoregulatory role of IL-10 produced by monocytes. J Exp Med. 1991 Nov 1;174(5):1209–1220. doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.1209. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. de Waal Malefyt R., Haanen J., Spits H., Roncarolo M. G., te Velde A., Figdor C., Johnson K., Kastelein R., Yssel H., de Vries J. E. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and viral IL-10 strongly reduce antigen-specific human T cell proliferation by diminishing the antigen-presenting capacity of monocytes via downregulation of class II major histocompatibility complex expression. J Exp Med. 1991 Oct 1;174(4):915–924. doi: 10.1084/jem.174.4.915. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Experimental Medicine are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES