B cell-derived IL-10 suppresses inflammatory disease in Lyn-deficient mice

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Oct 11;108(41):E823-32. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1107913108. Epub 2011 Sep 12.

Abstract

Lyn kinase deficient mice represent a well established genetic model of autoimmune/autoinflammatory disease that resembles systemic lupus erythematosus. We report that IL-10 plays a crucial immunosuppressive role in this model, modulating the inflammatory component of the disease caused by myeloid and T-cell activation. Double-mutant lyn(-/-)IL-10(-/-) mice manifested severe splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, dramatically increased proinflammatory cytokine production, and severe tissue inflammation. Single-mutant lyn(-/-)mice showed expansion of IL-10-producing B cells. Interestingly, WT B cells adoptively transferred into lyn(-/-) mice showed increased differentiation into IL-10-producing B cells that assumed a similar phenotype to endogenous lyn(-/-) IL-10-producing B cells, suggesting that the inflammatory environment present in lyn(-/-) mice induces IL-10-producing B-cell differentiation. B cells, but not T or myeloid cells, were the critical source of IL-10 able to reduce inflammation and autoimmunity in double mutant lyn(-/-)IL-10(-/-) mice. IL-10 secretion by B cells was also crucial to sustain transcription factor Forkhead Box P3 (Foxp3) expression in regulatory T cells during disease development. These data reveal a dominant immunosuppressive function of B-cell-derived IL-10 in the Lyn-deficient model of autoimmunity, extending our current understanding of the role of IL-10 and IL-10-producing B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / enzymology
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / prevention & control
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-10 / physiology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / prevention & control*
  • Lymphatic Diseases / etiology
  • Lymphatic Diseases / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Splenomegaly / etiology
  • Splenomegaly / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • src-Family Kinases / deficiency*
  • src-Family Kinases / genetics

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • IL10 protein, mouse
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-10
  • lyn protein-tyrosine kinase
  • src-Family Kinases