IL-10 augments antibody production in in vitro immunized lymphocytes by inducing a Th2-type response and B cell maturation

An in vitro immunization (IVI) protocol enables antigen specific antibody production from L-Leucyl-L-Leucine methyl ester (LLME)-treated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) upon antigen stimulation in the presence of IL-2, IL-4, and muramyl dipeptide. In the course of our studies, we have found that IL-10 added at the antigen sensitization significantly augmented antibody production level from the LLME-treated PBL. In the present study, we tried to demonstrate the role of IL-10 in the augmentation of antibody production in an IVI protocol by clarifying the cytokine expression profiles in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. The results showed that IL-10 skewed the Th1/Th2 balance to Th2-type responses by suppressing Th1-type cytokine production and augmenting Th2-type cytokine production in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, as well as in CD19(+) B cells. Furthermore, IL-10 augmented the expression of CD38, an antigen marker of plasma cells, on B cells, which clearly indicates that IL-10 promoted differentiation and maturation of B cells in an IVI protocol. These results indicate that IL-10 plays an important role in setting the cellular milieu to produce antibodies in an IVI protocol.