


* Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London, United Kingdom; and
Novartis Horsham Research Centre, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Correspondence: Dr. Lynn Williams, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Charing Cross Campus, ARC Building, 1 Aspenlea Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 8LH, UK. E-mail: lynn.williams{at}ic.ac.uk
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Key Words: LPS IFN lipopolysaccharide transmembrane TGF-ß
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(TNF-
) and IL-6] and disabling antigen presentation/T cell activation by inhibiting expression of major histocompatibility complex class II, B7-1, and B7-2 [2
3
4
]. The anti-inflammatory activity of IL-10 is augmented by enhancing the release of soluble(s) TNF receptors (R) and IL-1R antagonist [5
]. In contrast to its activities on macrophages, IL-10 induces the proliferation of mast cells, B and T cells, and enhances T cell responses to IL-2 [6
7
8
]. Numerous studies have shown that IL-10 treatment can decrease the severity of inflammatory processes in vivo. Specifically, IL-10 has been shown to reduce disease activity in numerous animal models of inflammation such as sepsis [9 ], collagen-induced arthritis [10 ], and insulitis [11 ] and in some models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [12 ]. Given its efficacy in animal models, recombinant IL-10 treatment has been developed as a candidate therapy for several immune diseases. However, phase II trial data from Crohns disease and rheumatoid arthritis suggested only a mild amelioration of disease activity [13 , 14 ]. More encouraging data are emerging from phase II trials of systemic administration of IL-10 in the treatment of psoratic skin lesions [15 ].
The intracellular mechanism by which IL-10 mediates its anti-inflammatory and other effects remains largely unknown. This subject, however, is of more than academic interest, given the potential of IL-10 as a therapeutic agent. IL-10 mediates these diverse activities via a high affinity cell surface receptor [16 17 18 ] composed of two chains, IL-10R1 and the recently identified CRF4 (IL-10R2 or IL-10Rß) [19 , 20 ]. Both chains of the receptor have been classified as members of the class II subgroup of cytokine receptors, called the interferon receptor (IFNR) family. Like other members of this family, IL-10 activates the JAK kinases, Jak-1 and Tyk-2 [21 ]. In addition, IL-10 has been reported to activate signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1, STAT-3, STAT-5 [22 23 24 25 ], phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, and p70 S6 kinase [26 ].
A major focus of IL-10 research has been to identify the mechanism by which IL-10 mediates suppression of cytokine synthesis. This remains a controversial field; specifically, the ability of IL-10 to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced gene expression has been shown to be transcriptionally mediated via the inhibition of the nuclear factor-
B pathway [27
, 28
]. However, further evidence also suggests that IL-10 can act through a post-transciptional mechanism via destabilizing mRNA. In the case of TNF-
and the chemokine KC, this effect requires the AU-rich elements in the 3' untranslated region [29
, 30
]. Furthermore, these reports suggest that the effects of IL-10 are indirect and that IL-10 is inducing a gene whose product is responsible for mediating the destabilization of mRNA [30
31
32
]. The generation of macrophage-specific STAT-3 knockout mice has provided further evidence supporting a role for IL-10-induced de novo protein synthesis in the anti-inflammatory response of IL-10. Macrophages isolated from these mice are no longer sensitive to IL-10-mediated suppression of TNF release [33
]. Only a limited number of genes have been shown to be up-regulated by IL-10; these include CD16, CD64, TIMP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), CCR5, IL-1ra, TNF-R2, suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3), and CD163, as reviewed by Donnelly et al. [34
]. Although some of these proteins have anti-inflammatory properties, it is not thought that they could be responsible for the suppression of cytokine synthesis.
We have used microarray analysis to identify IL-10-inducible genes in the presence and absence of the powerful pro-inflammatory stimulus LPS. These studies have identified 19 IL-10-inducible genes. Three of these genes, IL-1ra, SOCS3, and CD163, have previously been shown as being regulated by IL-10; however, the other 16 represent novel IL-10-inducible genes first identified in this study.
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RNA isolation
Following stimulation, cells were pelleted (14,000 rpm/30 s), supernatants were discarded, and 1 ml TRIZOL (Gibco, Scotland) was used to extract RNA from the cell pellets as per the manufacturers protocol. In total, RNA isolated from five donors was pooled and normalized between donors prior to mRNA purification using Oligotex-dt (Qiagen, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) as described [35
].
Microarray analysis
To generate fluorescently labeled probes, 200 ng mRNA was used to make first-strand cDNA in the presence of fluorescent nucleotide analogues [35
]. Labeled probes were hybridized to the Synteni UniGemV2.12 human microarray containing 10,000 genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and represent most well-characterized genes. This chip was chosen out of a set of six chips encompassing 60,000 ESTs as it allows the collection of the most informative subset of the expression data. However, the analysis of our samples on the complete chip set would identify additional, regulated genes and ESTs. Images were analyzed as described [35
]. Hybridizations were performed in duplicate for control purposes, and each probe was labeled with two different dyes. Data were analyzed using the software GemTools, using a modified algorithm for normalization. For the computation of the normalized differential expression values, a background subtraction was performed. Essentially, the background intensity values were subtracted for each probe for each data point, and the values obtained were used for the generation of differential expression values. Only genes with statistically significant differential expression values (significance P<0.05) were considered for further analyses.
cDNA synthesis
Synthesis of cDNA from total RNA samples was performed using the Multiscribe reverse transcriptase (RT) and random hexamers according to the manufacturers protocol (PE Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Briefly, 40 ng total RNA was used to prepare a master solution containing 5.5 mM MgCl2, 500 µM (each) dNTP, 2.5 µM random hexamers, 0.4 U/µl RNase inhibitor, 1.5 U/µl Multiscribe RT, and 1x TaqMan RT buffer. The mixture was incubated at 25°C for 10 min and 48°C for 30 min, and the reaction was terminated by 95°C for 5 min. After synthesis, cDNA was stored at 4°C.
Quantitation of gene expression by real-time RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR; TaqMan)
TaqMan probes and primers for quantitative detection of each gene transcript were designed using Primer Express computer software (PE Applied Biosystems). A TaqMan PCR core reagent kit was used to prepare a master mix for each experiment. Primers, forward (F) and reverse (R), and probes (P), were purchased from (PE Biosystems, Warrington, Cheshire); concentrations were optimized on an individual basis and are shown in Table 1
. An ABI PRISM 7700 detector sequence was programmed for the initial step of 2 min at 50°C and 10 min at 95°C, followed by 45 cycles of 15 s at 95°C and 1 min at 58°C. Each measurement was set up in triplicate, and three independent experiments were performed.
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Table 1. TaqMan Primers and Probes Used in This Study
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Table 2. LPS Induced RNA Expression Profile
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Table 3. IL-10-Induced RNA Expression Profile
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Table 4. IL-10 and LPS-Induced RNA Expression Profile
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Table 5. Genes that Are Down-regulated in Response to LPS
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Table 6. Genes that Are Down-regulated in Response to IL-10
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Table 7. Genes that are Down-regulated in Response to IL-10 and LPS
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Figure 1. Kinetics of IL-10 gene induction. Monocytes were stimulated 024 h with IL-10 (25 ng/ml). After isolation of RNA, the relative expression of each genes mRNA was determined using TaqMan real-time PCR. The housekeeping gene GAPDH was used for normalization. Data are presented as mean ± SD of triplicate reactions. The figure is representative of three independent experiments (using three separate donors). Calculations were performed as described in Materials and Methods. The statistical significance of the "fold" induction compared with unstimulated is indicated as follows: *, significant (0.01<P<0.05), or **, highly significant (0.01<P<0.001), as determined by Students t-test.
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Table 8. IL-10 Induction of Gene Expression in T Cells, Monocytes, and Macrophages of Expression
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Comparison of IL-10 gene induction to other anti-inflammatory mediators
We were interested to know if any of the genes we had shown as being regulated by IL-10 were also regulated by other anti-inflammatory stimuli. Surprisingly, with the exception of IL-1ra [38
, 39
], most of the previously known genes induced by IL-10 are not induced by other anti-inflammatory stimuli. We chose to look at three other anti-inflammatory stimuli, which all have the ability to inhibit LPS-induced TNF-
production, namely IL-4, TGF-ß, and dexamethasone. As shown in Figure 2
, four out of the six genes (S100A9, TCPTP, Ig-like 4, and 15+ PGDH) were not regulated by other anti-inflammatory stimuli. Dexamethasone, and to a lesser degree IL-4, also induced Ig-like 6 and SLAM expression. It is most interesting that dexamethasone was able to significantly enhance KIA0390 mRNA expression. At this moment, it is unclear why dexamethasone was able to induce expression in the same donor in which IL-10 had no effect.
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Figure 2. Comparison of IL-10 gene induction to other anti-inflammatory mediators. Monocytes were left unstimulated or stimulated for 4 h with IL-10 (25 ng/ml), IL-4 (25 ng/ml), TGF-ß (25 ng/ml), or Dex (100 nM). After isolation of RNA, the relative expression of each genes mRNA was determined using TaqMan real-time PCR. The housekeeping gene GAPDH was used for normalization. Data are presented as mean ± SD of triplicate reactions. Calculations were performed as described in Materials and Methods. The statistical significance of the "fold" induction compared with unstimulated is indicated as follows: *, significant (0.01<P<0.05), or **, highly significant (0.01<P<0.001), as determined by Students t-test.
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Figure 3. Effects of the presence of LPS on IL-10-induced gene induction. Monocytes were left unstimulated or stimulated for 4 h with IL-10 (25 ng/ml) or LPS (10 ng/ml) in the absence or presence of anti-IL-10 (10 µg/ml) or an isotype (Ig) control (10 µg/ml) or a combination of LPS and IL-10. After isolation of RNA, the relative expression of each genes mRNA was determined using TaqMan real-time PCR. The housekeeping gene GAPDH was used for normalization. Data are presented as mean ± SD of triplicate reactions. The figure is representative of three independent experiments (using three separate donors). Calculations were performed as described in Materials and Methods. The statistical significance of the "fold" induction compared with unstimulated is indicated as follows: *, significant (0.01+P<0.05), or **, highly significant (0.01<P<0.001), as determined by Students t-test.
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We chose to study further a limited number of genes. One of the genes up-regulated in response to IL-10 in monocytes and macrophages was TCPTP. This is an attractive candidate anti-inflammatory mediator, as the signaling pathways activated by LPS are well-characterized, and stimulation of monocytes by LPS results in activation of numerous tyrosine kinases (as reviewed in ref [42 ]). However, LPS also caused a mild elevation of TCPTP mRNA levels. TCPTP is an intracellular, non-TM tyrosine phosphatase initially isolated from a T cell cDNA library [36 ] but has subsequently been shown to be expressed in many tissues. Two splice variants are expressed: one, a 48-KD protein, is localized within the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas a 45-kDa (TC45) form, if found, is in basal conditions in the nucleus. At present, we are unsure as to which splice variant IL-10 induces. Recently, TCPTP has been shown to act as a negative regulator of Jak1 and Jak3 [43 ], so analogous to SOCS3, IL-10 may induce TCPTP to dampen down IL-10-induced JAK/STAT signaling. We have constructed adenoviral vectors containing a dominant negative form of TC45 and are studying its role in macrophage biology.
Another protein, whose expression had previously been linked to T cells, is SLAM. A member of the CD2 subfamily of Ig superfamily, SLAM is rapidly induced upon T cell activation, and engagement of this receptor leads to IFN-
production [37
]. It has subsequently been shown to be expressed on B cells, natural killer cells, and CD86+ dendritic cells, and the receptor is believed to mediate entry of the measles virus into immune cells [44
]. SLAM exists in multiple isoformsnamely, cytoplasmic, soluble, membrane, and variant membrane [45
]. The TaqMan PCR primers, which were used in this study, were designed to recognize all isoforms, and it is intriguing to speculate which, if any, are regulated at the level of protein expression. To date, IL-10 has been shown to down-regulate the expression of the membrane isoform of SLAM in T cells [46
], which is in keeping with its immunosuppressive properties.
Like TCPTP and SLAM, S100A9 mRNA was also induced in macrophages and monocytes, an important characteristic for any candidate gene if it is to mediate IL-10-induced suppression of cytokine synthesis. This protein was initially identified as a calcium-binding protein isolated from infiltrate macrophages of rheumatoid arthritis [47 ]. Along with a closely related protein S100A8, these proteins were found to be elevated in plasma of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. Several S100 proteins are known to be chemotactic, but a conclusive role for S100A9 has yet to be defined. Recently, IL-10 has been shown to synergize with LPS to induce S100A8 expression in the murine macrophages cell line RAW 264 [48 ]. In macrophages, we observed a substantial increase in S100A9 expression after 24 h of IL-10 stimulation, suggesting that this may be a secondary event meditated by induction of another gene product, which we may not have identified in our initial profiling study in monocytes.
Both IL-10 and LPS induced the Ig-like genes 4 and 6, but it is interesting that no synergy between the two stimuli was observed. The emerging family of Ig-like receptors can bind to human leukocyte antigen class I molecules and is believed to modulate function in a positive and negative manner [49 ]. Ig-like 4 is believed to act as an inhibitory receptor, and Ig-like 6 is stimulatory. However, the gene product we observed to be regulated by IL-10 lacks a TM domain and exists as a soluble receptor. Unlike any other anti-inflammatory stimuli tested, IL-10 induced TLR1 mRNA accumulation in monocytes. Upon maturation in macrophages, IL-10 was no longer capable of up-regulating Ig-like receptor 4 or 6 or the TLR1, probably because the maturation process seems to up-regulate steady-state levels of these three receptors. Given that the Toll family of receptors serves to recognize a diverse array of microbial products that mediate innate immune defenses [50 ], it is somewhat surprising that this particular TLR appears to be up-regulated by IL-10 and down-regulated by LPS. However, it is now becoming clear that TLRs can form heterodimers, and TLR1, when found in a heterodimer with TLR2, can act as an inhibitory receptor preventing modulin, a soluble factor released by Staphylococcus epidermidis-induced responses in macrophages [51 ]. Any elevation of TLR1 expression at the protein level may serve to enhance the levels of inhibitory TLRs on monocytes.
The expression of 15+ PGDH followed a unique pattern. It was expressed in T cells and monocytes but not macrophages, and, like many of the other genes, it was also induced by LPS. dexamethasone also induced significant expression, which is at odds with previous data that had shown that dexamethasone actually inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced PGDH expression in U937 cells [52 ]. However, there is a precedent for a role of IL-10 in the regulation of PGDH. Pomini et al. [53 ] described that IL-10 alone was unable to induce PGDH mRNA expression, but it was able to reverse TNF- and IL-1ß-mediated suppression. PGDH expression is tightly regulated, and its expression has only been detected in a limited number of tissues. It is a key catabolic enzyme involved in the inactivation of prostagladins. The ability of IL-10 to inhibit prostaglandin E2 production is believed to be mediated by the inhibition of COX1 and COX2 gene expression [54 ]. However, induction of PGDH by IL-10 may represent an additional mechanism by which this potent, anti-inflammatory cytokine exerts its effects.
In summary, two main conclusions may be drawn from this study. First, IL-10 appears to induce only a limited number of genes in human monocytes. Surprisingly, LPS also induced seven out of the eight genes identified within this study. It would therefore seem unlikely that these particular genes are responsible for mediating the anti-inflammatory response of IL-10. Second, and of equal interest, is the apparent ability of IL-10 to inhibit the expression of such a large array of LPS-inducible genes. We find this intriguing, as this suppression seems not to be limited to the expression of well-characterized genes. In addition to suppressing proinflammatory mediators, this group of genes down-regulated by IL-10 also included numerous genes whose function is not believed to be involved in the inflammatory process, further emphasizing the wide array of IL-10 functions in addition to the conventional anti-inflammatory role ascribed to this intriguing cytokine.
Received November 20, 2001; revised April 17, 2002; accepted April 18, 2002.
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