Article abstract


Nature Immunology 8, 1363 - 1371 (2007)
Published online: 11 November 2007 | Corrected online: 16 November 2007 | doi:10.1038/ni1537

Interleukins 27 and 6 induce STAT3-mediated T cell production of interleukin 10

Jason S Stumhofer1, Jonathan S Silver1, Arian Laurence2, Paige M Porrett3, Tajie H Harris1, Laurence A Turka3, Matthias Ernst4, Christiaan J M Saris5, John J O'Shea2 & Christopher A Hunter1


Interleukin 10 (IL-10) has a prominent function in regulating the balance between protective and pathological T cell responses. Consistent with that activity, many sources of this cytokine are found in vivo, including from myeloid cells and a variety of T cell subsets. However, although there are many pathways that regulate innate production of IL-10, the factors that govern its synthesis by the adaptive response are poorly understood. Here we report that IL-27 and IL-6 induced T helper type 1 and type 2 cells, as well as T helper cells that produce IL-17, to secrete IL-10. This effect was dependent on the transcription factors STAT1 and STAT3 for IL-27 and on STAT3 for IL-6. Our studies identify a previously unknown pathway that allows the immune system to temper inflammatory responses.

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  1. Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  2. Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Muskoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
  3. Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  4. Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia.
  5. Department of Inflammation Research, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, USA.

Correspondence to: Christopher A Hunter1 e-mail: chunter@vet.upenn.edu

* In the version of this article initially published online, reference 32 is cited incorrectly. The correct reference is "Bettelli, E. et al. Reciprocal developmental pathways for the generation of pathogenic effector TH17 and regulatory T cells. Nature441, 235–238 (2006)" (originally reference 57). The error has been corrected for all versions of the article.


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