INTERLEUKIN-10 INHIBITS MOTILITY IN MURINE AND HUMAN B-LYMPHOCYTES

We here report the finding that the anti-inflammatory cytokine interle ukin-10 (IL-10) inhibits motility of B lymphocytes. B cells were induc ed to display motile morphology and active migration by IL-4. IL-10 in hibited locomotor responses to IL-4, when B cells of both murine and h uman origin were used. The inhibitory effect of IL-10 was reversible, since washing of B cells preincubated in IL-10 restored the ability to respond to IL-4, Time-course experiments showed that IL-10 did not ha ve to be present from the very onset of culture, but could be added as late as 5 hr after initiation. In addition, murine B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed motile morphology, as well as ce llular aggregation and proliferation. All these parameters were suppre ssed by IL-10. However, viability of B cells was not adversely affecte d by IL-10. Exposure to IL-10 did not result in any changes in the sur face expression of molecules involved in adhesion, such as CD2, CD11a/ CD18, CD44, CD54 or L-selectin, on B lymphocytes.