INTERLEUKIN-10 INCREASES CCR5 EXPRESSION AND HIV-INFECTION IN HUMAN MONOCYTES

The immunosuppressive and antiiflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL) 10 selectively upregulates the expression of the CC chemokine receptors CCR5, 2, and 1 in human monocytes by prolonging their mRNA half-life. IL-10-stimulated monocytes display an increased number of cell surface receptors for, and better chemotactic responsiveness to, relevant ago nists than do control cells. In addition, IL-10-stimulated monocytes a re more efficiently infected by HIV Bat. This effect was associated to the enhancement of viral entry through CCR5. These data add support t o an emerging paradigm in which pro-and antiinflammatory molecules exe rt reciprocal and opposing influence on chemokine agonist production a nd receptor expression.