Macrophages and Myeloid Dendritic Cells, but Not Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells, Produce IL-10 in Response to MyD88- and TRIF-Dependent TLR Signals, and TLR-Independent Signals

Abstract

We have previously reported that mouse plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DC) produce high levels of IL-12p70, whereas bone marrow-derived myeloid DC and splenic DC produce substantially lower levels of this cytokine when activated with the TLR-9 ligand CpG. We now show that in response to CpG stimulation, high levels of IL-10 are secreted by macrophages, intermediate levels by myeloid DC, but no detectable IL-10 is secreted by plasmacytoid DC. MyD88-dependent TLR signals (TLR4, 7, 9 ligation), Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor-dependent TLR signals (TLR3, 4 ligation) as well as non-TLR signals (CD40 ligation) induced macrophages and myeloid DC to produce IL-10 in addition to proinflammatory cytokines. IL-12p70 expression in response to CpG was suppressed by endogenous IL-10 in macrophages, in myeloid DC, and to an even greater extent in splenic CD8α⁻ and CD8α⁺ DC. Although plasmacytoid DC did not produce IL-10 upon stimulation, addition of this cytokine exogenously suppressed their production of IL-12, TNF, and IFN-α, showing trans but not autocrine regulation of these cytokines by IL-10 in plasmacytoid DC.