Differential effects of interleukin-10 on the expression of HLA class II and CD1 molecules induced by granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin-4

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)‐10 down‐regulates HLA class II molecules, whether constitutively expressed or up‐regulated by interferon‐γ or IL‐4 on monocytes but not on B lymphocytes. In this study we show that IL‐10 does not inhibit HLA class II expression induced by the combination granulocyte/macrophage colony‐stimulating factor and IL‐4 on monocytes, although it simultaneously abrogates the expression of CD1 molecules induced by the same combination of cytokines. CD1 molecules can act as element of genetic restriction for CD4− CD8− T lymphocytes, and the suppression of CD1 expression by IL‐10 abolished antigen presentation to CD1‐restricted CD4− CD8− T cell receptor‐positive T cells. Although HLA class II expression was not down‐regulated by IL‐10, the antigen specific proliferative response of CD4+ T cells was nevertheless decreased. This was not caused by down‐regulation of known co‐stimulatory molecules such as B7.1, B7.2 and ICAM‐1. IL‐10 decreased the antigen specific proliferative response further by directly influencing the T lymphocytes. Our results indicate that IL‐10 exerts some of its immunoregulatory functions by differential modulation of antigen presenting molecules, induced by the same combination of cytokines.

Part of CIRS Nexus · Curated by Lauren Lowenstein, The Biotoxin Lady

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