INTERLEUKIN-10 PRODUCTION DURING SEPTICEMIA

Interleukin-10 is produced during incubation of human whole blood with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and down-regulates tumour necrosis factor-alpha production in this in-vitro model of endotoxaemia. 39 ou t of 69 (57%) patients with gram-negative (n = 25) or gram-positive se pticaemia (n = 44) had increased plasma interleukin-10 (range 12-2740 pg/mL), whereas interleukin-10 was undetectable in 29 out of 33 contro l patients without infection and in 20 healthy volunteers. Patients wi th septic shock (n = 21) had higher interleukin-10 (median 58 pg/mL) t han septicaemic patients without shock (11 pg/mL, p<0.001). We conclud e that interleukin-10 is produced during sepsis and might be involved in the control of the inflammatory response induced by bacterial produ cts.