Cutting Edge: IL-10-Producing CD4+ T Cells Mediate Tumor Rejection

Abstract

IL-10 has potent immunosuppressive properties, and IL-10-producing CD4+ Tr1 cells have been characterized as regulators of Th1-mediated immunity. In this study, using a s.c. model of glioma cell growth in mice, we demonstrate that CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells play a critical role in tumor rejection following vaccination with irradiated glioma cells. Surprisingly, glioma-specific CD4+ T cells produce IL-10 but neither IL-4 nor IFN-γ, and glioma rejection is compromised in IL-10−/− hosts. Hence, our findings demonstrate that IL-10-producing CD4+ T cells can manifest antitumor functions and suggest that IL-10 may have proinflammatory effects in disease states.