INTERLEUKIN-10 REDUCES MORTALITY FROM SEVERE PERITONITIS IN MICE

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is known to suppress the induction of proinflam matory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-1 and is i tself induced by monocytes and macrophages during sepsis. We studied t he therapeutic efficacy of IL-10 by testing its effect on the survival rate in the murine cecal ligation-and-puncture (CLP) model. Administr ation of 1 mu g or more of recombinant murine IL-10 6 h after inductio n of sepsis decreased lethality in septic mice significantly and also suppressed the elevation of circulating TNF after sepsis. However, tre atment with the same dose of IL-10 simultaneously or 6 h before induct ion of CLP had no effect on survival, and treatment with anti-TNF anti body after induction of CLP had no effect on the survival rate. These data suggest that cytokine modulation with IL-10 is a potential candid ate for the treatment of sepsis and sepsis-related multiple organ fail ure.