Interleukin-10 inhibits motility in murine and human B lymphocytes

We here report the finding that the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) inhibits motility of B lymphocytes. B cells were induced to display motile morphology and active migration by IL-4. IL-10 inhibited locomotor responses to IL-4, when B cells of both murine and human origin were used. The inhibitory effect of IL-10 was reversible, since washing of B cells preincubated in IL-10 restored the ability to respond to IL-4. Time-course experiments showed that IL-10 did not have to be present from the very onset of culture, but could be added as late as 5 hr after initiation. In addition, murine B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed motile morphology, as well as cellular aggregation and proliferation. All these parameters were suppressed by IL-10. However, viability of B cells was not adversely affected by IL-10. Exposure to IL-10 did not result in any changes in the surface expression of molecules involved in adhesion, such as CD2, CD11a/CD18, CD44, CD54 or L-selectin, on B lymphocytes.