IL10

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. It is produced by a range of immune and non-immune cells and serves to dampen inflammatory responses and limit tissue damage during infections and inflammation.

The human IL10 gene is located on chromosome 1q32.1. The mature cytokine is a secreted homodimer that binds to a heterodimeric IL-10 receptor to exert its effects.

IL-10 signals through the IL-10 receptor, composed of IL-10R1 and IL-10R2. This activates JAK1 and TYK2 kinases and STAT3, promoting transcription of anti-inflammatory genes and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1.

Cellular sources include monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, regulatory T cells, Th2 cells, and B cells. IL-10 acts on many cell types, including macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells, reducing antigen presentation and T cell activation.

In physiology, IL-10 helps maintain mucosal and systemic homeostasis, particularly in the gut and CNS, by limiting excessive immune activation and preventing collateral tissue injury during infections or chronic inflammation.

Clinical relevance: dysregulation of IL-10 signaling is linked to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Therapeutic use of IL-10 has shown limited efficacy in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, with concerns about dosing, delivery, and potential infection risk. In tumors, IL-10 can contribute to immune evasion.

IL-10 is measured in research and clinical contexts as a biomarker of inflammation. Its regulation is complex, influenced by microbial products, other cytokines, and signaling pathways, and it often acts in feedback loops that restrain immune responses.