Experimental Leishmania major infection in mice: role of IL-10

L. major infection of mice induces polarized Th1 and Th2 responses that are correlated with healing of the infection (Th1) or a fatal disease (Th2). The Th subset specific cytokines, IFNgamma and IL-4, themselves were shown to be important factors for the differentiation into the Th1 and Th2 pathways during infection. We studied the role of the Th2 cytokine IL-10 during leishmania infection: removal of endogenous IL-10 by anti-IL-10 treatment did not alter the Th2 cytokine pattern in non-healer mice nor did it modulate DTH reactivity, IgE production or fatal disease progression, but partially blocked the IFNgamma inhibiting effect of rIL-4 in healer mice. During chronic infection similar amounts of IL-10 were produced in both healer and non-healer mice. However, at early time-points during infection IL-10 production was significantly higher in the non-healer Th2 responder animals. IL-10 production in vitro caused significant inhibition of in vitro IFNgamma production. In conclusion IL-10, unlike IL-4 and IFNgamma, does not seem to play a readily detectable role in the Th subset differentiation during L. major infection. However, the high production of IL-10 early during infection in non-healer mice and inhibition of leishmania-specific IFNgamma production may contribute to drive the immune response towards a Th2 response.