Therapeutic implications of interleukin-10 in inflammatory bowel disease.

Enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines has been described in inflammatory bowel disease. The effect of interleukin (IL)-10, a cytokine with antiinflammatory activity, or anti-IL-10, on cytokine production by cultured colonic mucosa or blood mononuclear cells from patients with active inflammatory bowel disease was evaluated. Addition of IL-10 to the culture medium of colonic tissues or blood mononuclear cells resulted in inhibition of both IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production and augmentation of IL-1 receptor antagonist production. Conversely, neutralization of endogenous IL-10 was found to augment both tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1 beta production and inhibit IL-1 receptor antagonist production. In addition, the production of IL-10 by mononuclear cells was suppressed by prednisolone. In conclusion, IL-10 and related molecules may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.