Experimental Models for the Analysis of IL-10 Function

his review focuses on the regulatory functions of IL-10 in the response to parasitic and bacterial infection revealed through knockout, cytokine/receptor blocking, and transgenic mouse studies. The various mechanisms that control the production and activity of IL-10 are also discussed. Studies performed over the past few years illustrate a complex and pleiotropic nature for IL-10 in host immunity. The fact that nearly every cell in the body can respond to IL-10 and multiple cells produce the cytokine likely explains this multifaceted activity. Studies conducted in experimental infectious and inflammatory diseases models have been particularly useful in defining the various regulatory activities of IL-10. Although these studies have identified many common themes for IL-10 in host immunity, they also nicely illustrate how IL-10 fine-tunes the response to individual pathogens and prevents inflammation.