Inflammation Part 9: Interleukin 10

Interleukin-10 (IL-10)

Dicken Weatherby, N.D. and Beth Ellen DiLuglio, MS, RDN, LDN

The ODX Inflammation Series

1. Inflammation Part 1 - The Fire Inside - Overview
2. Inflammation Part 2 - The Fire Inside - "Inflammaging"
3. Inflammation Part 3 - A Focus on Cytokines
4. Inflammation Part 4 - Cytokines & Their Functions
5. Inflammation Part 5 - The Cytokine Storm
6. Inflammation Part 6 - Cytokine Biomarkers
7. Inflammation Part 7 - Establishing Cytokine Ranges
8. Inflammation Part 8 - Interleukin 6
9. Inflammation Part 9 - Interleukin 10
10. Inflammation Part 10 - The IL-6 : IL-10 Ratio
11. Inflammation Part 11 - Resolution & Intervention

Interleukin-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that curbs IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-8 pro-inflammatory activity. [1] It is produced by cells in the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system including B cells, CD8+ T cells, dendritic cells, eosinophils, macrophages, mast cells, natural killer cells, neutrophils, and TH1, TH2, TH17, and regulatory T cells. IL-10 secretion is stimulated by stress and activation of the stress axis. Disruption of IL-10 can contribute to inflammation-related diseases including allergies, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, IBD, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, neuropathic pain, Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematous. [2]

Research suggests that it is instrumental in controlling autoimmunity and angiogenesis as well as inflammation. [3]

It is recognized as a significant factor in resolving inflammation and healing wounds. [4]

IL-10 is also the “most widely studied anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution cytokine” in acute respiratory distress syndrome. [5]

IL-10 appears to be critical to gastrointestinal immune homeostasis and insufficiency of IL-10 has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Animal studies suggest that administration of vitamin D, which promotes IL-10 production, may be therapeutic in colitis. [6]

Interleukin-10 induces “immunoparalysis” when produced systemically in response to the cytokine storm. Immunoparalysis effectively downregulates the function of neutrophils and monocytes. Such immunosuppressive action may be beneficial in the short term. However, prolonged immunosuppression may contribute to mortality in those who survive the cytokine storm but do not survive immunoparalysis .[7]

Standard range serum IL-10:

• • Results for this test are for research purposes only by the assay's manufacturer. The performance characteristics of this product have not been established. Results should not be used as a diagnostic procedure without confirmation of the diagnosis by another medically established diagnostic product or procedure.

• • NOTE that different labs may utilize different methodologies and testing kits for their validated assays. The reference ranges are established using the testing kits, testing platforms, methodologies, and sample populations validated by the individual laboratory. Reference ranges should not be compared between different laboratories, especially when different methods are utilized for testing as the results cannot be compared in an equivalent manner.

Next Up: Inflammation Part 10 - A Focus on IL-6 : IL-10 Ratio

Research

[1] Rea, Irene Maeve et al. “Age and Age-Related Diseases: Role of Inflammation Triggers and Cytokines.” Frontiers in immunology vol. 9 586. 9 Apr. 2018.

[2] Mollazadeh, Hamid et al. “Immune modulation by curcumin: The role of interleukin-10.” Critical reviews in food science and nutrition vol. 59,1 (2019): 89-101. 

[3] Labcorp. Serum IL-10. https://www.labcorp.com/tests/140920/interleukin-10-serum 

[4] Burmeister, Amanda R, and Ian Marriott. “The Interleukin-10 Family of Cytokines and Their Role in the CNS.” Frontiers in cellular neuroscience vol. 12 458. 27 Nov. 2018.

[5] McElvaney, Oliver J et al. “A linear prognostic score based on the ratio of interleukin-6 to interleukin-10 predicts outcomes in COVID-19.” EBioMedicine, vol. 61 103026. 8 Oct. 2020.

[6] Mudambi, Kiran, and Dorsey Bass. “Vitamin D: a brief overview of its importance and role in inflammatory bowel disease.” Translational gastroenterology and hepatology vol. 3 31. 29 May. 2018. 

[7] Tisoncik, Jennifer R et al. “Into the eye of the cytokine storm.” Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR vol. 76,1 (2012): 16-32. 

[8] Labcorp. Serum IL-10. https://www.labcorp.com/tests/140920/interleukin-10-serum

[9] Mayo Clinic IL-10. https://www.testcatalog.org/show/FIL1S