Regulatory role of endogenous interleukin-10 in cutaneous inflammatory response of murine wound healing

This study investigated the role of endogenous interleukin (IL)-10 in cutaneous wound healing. Both IL-10 mRNA and protein were detectable in murine incised wounds for 10 days after injury. The IL-10 protein level peaked 3 h after incision, returned to the normal level by 24 h, but increased again to another peak at 72 h. In situ hybridization studies and immunostaining revealed that epidermal cells and infiltrating mononuclear cells were the major source of IL-10. Neutralizing antibody studies demonstrated that IL-10 inhibited the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages toward the site of injury. IL-10 also inhibited overexpression of C-C chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) in. vivo. These results suggest that IL-10 may play an important regulatory role in the phase-specific infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages as well as the cytokine production in the inflammatory response of cutaneous wound healing. (C) 1999 Academic Press.