Interleukin-10 and Graft-versus-Host Disease

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Abstract
Lin et al. (Dec. 4 issue)1 conclude that recipients of allogeneic bone marrow who have the interleukin-10 (IL10) –592A/A genotype have a lower risk of severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) than recipients who have the –592C/C genotype. The authors hypothesize that a high level of interleukin-10 production is associated with the –592A/A genotype and mitigates the intensity of GVHD-induced inflammation. However, Lin et al. did not measure serum interleukin-10 levels in the recipients they studied. Miura et al. have reported that patients with the IL10 –592A/C genotype or –592A/A genotype have reduced levels of IL10 messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts in their peripheral-blood mononuclear cells and a reduced incidence of GVHD.2 Miura et al. have also reported that the level of cytokine production is directly related to the level of mRNA expression. Interleukin-10 may have both immunostimulatory and immunoregulatory effects, leading to either GVHD-related deterioration or amelioration of this post-transplantation complication.3 Therefore, it is unclear whether the recipients with the IL10 –592A/A genotype have high levels of interleukin-10 production and whether high levels of interleukin-10 decrease the risk of severe GVHD.