Interleukin 10

Interleukin-10 (IL-10 or IL10), also known as human cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (CSIF), is an anti-inflammatory cytokine.

A study in mice has shown that interleukin-10 is also produced by mast cells, couteracting the inflammatory effect that these cells have at the site of an allergic reaction.

Function
It is capable of inhibiting synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-3, TNFα and GM-CSF made by cells such as macrophages and the Type 1 T helper cells.

IL-10 also displays potent abilities to suppress the antigen presentation capactiy of antigen presenting cells.

However, it is also stimulatory towards certain T cells, mast cells and B cells.

Expression
It is mainly expressed in monocytes and Type 2 T helper cells (TH2), mast cells and also in a certain subset of activated T cells and B cells.

It is released by cytotoxic T-cells to inhibit the actions of NK cells during the immune response to viral infection.

Gene and Protein Structure
In humans, the IL-10 gene is located in chromosome 1 and consists of 5 exons.

The IL-10 protein is a homodimer. Each subunit is 178 amino acids long.