inflammation & autoimmunity

IL10

Inflammatory & Anti-Inflammatory Roles of IL-10 in Lupus (IL10)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on December 2nd, 2020

IL-10 is a generally anti-inflammatory cytokine that has both beneficial & detrimental roles in autoimmune disease. Click here to learn more.

Summary

IL10 encodes interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Variants of IL10 may play a role in lupus by disrupting B cell function and decreasing total circulating IL-10. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by supporting normal IL-10 function.

IL10 and Lupus

The IL10 gene codes for interleukin-10 (also abbreviated as IL-10), a cytokine with a complex relationship with inflammation. In fact, most of the time, IL-10 is anti-inflammatory and suppresses the activity of Th1 cells, Th2 cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and natural killer cells [R, R, R].

IL-10 has a complex relationship with autoimmunity. On the one hand, IL-10 suppresses the activity of almost all other white blood cells [R, R, R].

On the other hand, this cytokine stimulates the production of antibodies from B cells; if the antibodies being produced attack the body’s own tissues, then an autoimmune reaction may result. Indeed, one study found that lupus patients with high IL-10 were significantly more likely to develop severe forms of the disease [R, R].

But that’s not where the complications end: a Japanese study found that people with lupus were likely to have autoantibodies that bind to IL-10. The authors suggested that IL-10 antibodies could be causing abnormal B cell activity in lupus patients [R].

The final point of complexity comes from variants in the IL10 gene. The alleles associated with increased lupus risk are also associated with decreased IL-10 levels [R, R].

Therefore, the recommendations section below will focus on strategies that both increase IL-10 and have been found to improve lupus in clinical trials.

IL-10 is generally anti-inflammatory but stimulates antibody production from B cells. People with lupus may produce antibodies that bind to IL-10, leading to abnormal B cell activity and autoimmune inflammation.

Your IL10 Results for Lupus

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs3024505
rs3024493

IL10 rs3024505 [R]

‘G’ = Associated with relatively lower rates of lupus
‘A’ = Associated with relatively higher rates of lupus
The ‘A’ allele may decrease circulating IL-10 and possibly disrupt normal B cell function [R, R].

IL10 rs3024493 [R]

‘C’ = Associated with relatively lower rates of lupus
‘A’ = Associated with relatively higher rates of lupus
The ‘A’ allele may decrease circulating IL-10 and possibly disrupt normal B cell function [R, R].

Recommendations

Avoid Cigarettes

Some studies showed that smokers tend to have lower IL-10 levels (and higher levels of several inflammatory cytokines) in their blood and saliva [R, R].

Several meta-analyses found that the risk of lupus increases by approximately 50% in current but not in former smokers. Moreover, smoking may reduce the effectiveness of antimalarials such as hydroxychloroquine (used for skin injuries) by 50% and immunosuppressants such as belimumab (used for systemic symptoms) by 90% [R, R, R].

Cigarette smokers tend to have lower IL-10 levels and are at greater risk of developing lupus.

Physical Fitness

Exercise and physical fitness improve the immune response and reduce rates of illness. Physical activity can increase the level of IL-10 in the blood, which contributes to the anti-inflammatory effect of exercise. Research suggests that exercise duration stimulates IL-10 activity more than exercise intensity [R, R, R].

A meta-analysis of people with lupus concluded that 12-week aerobic exercise programs may help improve fatigue, depression, and physical fitness without worsening disease activity. People with mild lupus should begin with moderate intensity exercise for at least 20 minutes 3 days/week [R, R].

People who are physically fit may have higher IL-10 levels, and physical exercise improved symptoms of lupus in a large meta-analysis.

Mediterranean Diet

People who eat a Mediterranean diet—rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil; including more fish while cutting back on red meat and sweets—tend to have more circulating IL-10 [R, R].

Practicing a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and fish, and low in red meat, sugars, and pastries reduced lupus severity and the risk of heart disease in a study of 280 people suffering from this condition [R].

However, a large study of 173,000 women found that high-quality diets (including the Mediterranean diet) didn’t reduce the risk of developing lupus. The study only suggested a reduced risk of lupus in those with a high intake of nuts and legumes [R].

People who eat a Mediterranean diet tend to have higher IL-10 and may be at lower risk of developing lupus.

NAC

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) decreases the inflammatory response by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing those with an anti-inflammatory activity. NAC helped maintain high levels of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 even a week after exercising in 29 people. It also increased this cytokine in another trial on 50 people undergoing a liver transplantation [R, R].

In a small trial of people with lupus, supplementation with 2.4-4.8 g/day N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced lupus severity, fatigue, and the overactive immune response [R].

The same doses reduced ADHD symptoms in another placebo-controlled trial of 49 patients with lupus [R].

NAC supplementation helped maintain high IL-10 for longer periods after exercise and improved symptoms of lupus.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More inflammation & autoimmunity blogs

How to Combat Histamine Intolerance Through Genetics (DAO) Are You Genetically Vulnerable to High Brain Histamine, Migraines, or ADHD? (HNMT) How to Tell if You’re Lectin Sensitive Using Your Genetic Data (CNR1) Are You Sensitive to Lectins? (MTHFR) Fight Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Brain Fog (PARP1) Is This Gene Causing Your Autoimmune Problems? (PTPN22) Are You Genetically Susceptible to Post-Treatment Lyme? (ABCB1) A Key Genetic Player in Autoimmunity (HLA-B) Is This Inflammation Gene Reducing Your Intelligence? (TNFSF9) Can You Manage Allergies and Asthma by Balancing Methylation? (MTHFR)

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