Figure 1.

Vaccine-induced IL-10 production defines two different dendritic cell populations. Adjuvants included in vaccines promote the generation of two DC populations identified by their capacity to produce IL-10. IL-10⁺ DC are characterized by poorer expression of MHC and co-stimulatory molecules, upregulation of PD-L1 and immunosuppressive cytokines, resulting in impaired ability to activate antitumor T cells, as opposed to IL-10⁻ DC, which retain full capacity to trigger functional antitumor T cell responses. Moreover, IL-10⁺ DC inhibit antigen-presenting functions of IL-10⁻ DC.