Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
Circulating interleukin-10: association with higher mortality in systolic heart failure patients with elevated tumor
Offer Amir1, Ori Rogowski, Miriam David
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart Failure Center, Carmel, Israel. offeram@012.net.il
Insights
Elevated interleukin-10 (IL-10) did not protect systolic heart failure patients from death. High levels of both IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) significantly increased mortality risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine.
- IL-10 is often considered protective in heart failure, unlike tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of IL-10 on mortality in systolic heart failure patients.
- To examine this impact in relation to circulating TNFalpha levels.
Main Methods:
- Circulating IL-10 and TNFalpha levels were measured in 67 ambulatory systolic heart failure patients.
- Patient mortality was analyzed based on IL-10 and TNFalpha levels.
Main Results:
- Higher TNFalpha levels correlated with increased mortality (39% vs. 14%, P=0.02).
- Higher IL-10 levels showed a trend towards increased mortality (30% vs. 15%, P=0.10).
- Patients with elevated levels of both IL-10 and TNFalpha had the highest mortality (44% vs. 16%, P=0.019) and a 3.67-fold increased hazard ratio.
Conclusions:
- Elevated IL-10 does not offer a protective effect against mortality in systolic heart failure.
- Concurrently elevated IL-10 and TNFalpha levels are associated with significantly higher mortality.
- The complex inflammatory and anti-inflammatory network interactions warrant further investigation.
Background:
Interleukin-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine and consequently is considered by many to have a protective role in heart failure, as opposed to the notorious tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
Objectives:
To test the hypothesis of the possible beneficial impact of IL-10 on mortality in systolic heart failure patients in relation to their circulating TNFalpha levels.
Methods:
We measured circulating levels of IL-10 and TNFalpha in 67 ambulatory systolic heart failure patients (age 65 +/- 13 years).
Results:
Mortality was or tended to be higher in patients with higher levels (above median level) of circulating TNFalpha (9/23, 39% vs. 6/44, 14%; P = 0.02) or IL-10 (10/34, 30% vs. 5/33, 15%; P = 0.10). However, mortality was highest in the subset of patients with elevation of both markers above median (7/16, 44% vs. 8/51, 16%; P = 0.019). Elevation of both markers was associated with more than a threefold hazard ratio for mortality (HR 3.67, 95% confidence interval 1.14-11.78).
Conclusions:
Elevated circulating IL-10 levels in systolic heart failure patients do not have a protective counterbalance effect on mortality. Moreover, patients with elevated IL-10 and TNFalpha had significantly higher mortality, suggesting that the possible interaction in the complex inflammatory and anti-inflammatory network may need further study.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
01:24T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...