Definition of Interleukin-10

Interleukin-10: Abbreviated IL-10. An antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive substance produced within the body. IL-10 plays a role in the regulation of immune responses. It is secreted by antigen-presenting cells, promotes the development of immunologic tolerance, and suppresses the production of inflammatory cytokines. The gene for IL-10 is in chromosome region 1q31-q32.

IL-10 modulates acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a major complication in bone marrow transplant. The presence of a particular variant in the recipient's IL-10 gene is associated with a substantial decrease in the risk of GVHD. Knowledge of the recipient's IL-10 genotype helps predict the chance of GVHD.