Human interleukin-10 can directly inhibit T-cell growth

Blood. 1993 Jun 1;81(11):2964-71.

Abstract

Human interleukin-10 (IL-10) inhibits T-cell proliferation and cytokine production in the presence of monocytes. In this study, we have investigated whether IL-10 can directly inhibit T cells. Highly purified peripheral blood T cells containing less than 0.1% CD14+ cells and unresponsive to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), were growth-inhibited by IL-10 when stimulated with immobilized OKT3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb; 55.4% inhibition). This effect was neutralized by the murine MoAb 19F1 directed against human IL-10. In addition, IL-10 inhibited by 52.5% the proliferation of a human tetanus toxoid-specific T-cell clone (TM11) induced by immobilized OKT3 MoAb in the absence of antigen-presenting function. T-cell growth inhibition by IL-10 did not reflect a cytokine-induced change in the kinetics of T-cell response to immobilized OKT3 MoAb, and was observed over a wide range of cell and OKT3 MoAb concentrations. Addition of 1% to 5% monocytes to highly purified peripheral blood T cells resulted in the emergence of proliferation to PHA and to soluble OKT3 MoAb, but did not significantly affect levels of growth inhibition by IL-10 in the presence of immobilized OKT3 MoAb. Similarly, addition of 10% monocytes to the TM11 T-cell clone resulted in the emergence of proliferation in response to tetanus toxoid, but did not significantly influence growth inhibition by IL-10 in the presence of immobilized OKT3 MoAb. When stimulated with immobilized OKT3 MoAb in the absence of accessory cells, T cells secreted IL-2. Secretion of IL-2 under these conditions was inhibited by IL-10 (51.5% inhibition). Thus, IL-10 can directly inhibit growth and IL-2 production in T cells triggered by immobilized OKT3 MoAb in the absence of monocytes.

MeSH terms

  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Clone Cells
  • Growth Inhibitors
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interleukin-10 / pharmacology*
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • Growth Inhibitors
  • Interleukin-2
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • Interleukin-10