Production of IL‐10 by melanoma cells: Examination of its role in immunosuppression mediated by melanoma

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Abstract
Previous studies have shown that IL‐10 may modulate immune responses towards the humoral arm by inhibiting production of cytokines involved in cell‐mediated responses. In the present studies, we found that mRNA to IL‐10 could be demonstrated in 66% of melanoma cell lines by PCR amplification of reverse‐transcribed mRNA and in supernatant of the cell lines by ELISA. Release into the supernatants increased approximately 2‐fold each day up to 3 days. The MW of 35S‐labelled IL‐10 secreted by melanoma cells was similar to that reported in previous studies. In the present studies we also examined whether IL‐10 may be responsible for some of the immunosuppressive effects of the melanoma cell supernatants observed in previous studies, by testing whether MAbs against IL‐10 could reverse the inhibitory effects of these supernatants. Recombinant IL‐10 and melanoma supernatants were found to inhibit production of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and mixed lymphocyte reactions but reversal of these effects of melanoma supernatants by MAbs against IL‐10 was only seen in the case of TNF‐α production. These results extend the range of cell types known to produce IL‐10 and indicate that malignancy of certain cell types may lead to unregulated production of IL‐10 that could have the potential to modulate immune responses against the tumor.

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