Enteral immunotherapy in the treatment of chronic enterocolitis in interleukin-10-deficient mice.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transgenic IL-10-deficient mice (IL-10 ko mice) spontaneously develop a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that is reminiscent of Crohn's disease. In a randomized, prospective, comparative study, we evaluated the effect of local, endoluminal immunotherapy by duodenal injection of mouse recombinant IL-10 (rm IL-10), in IL-10 ko mice with chronic enterocolitis; the first of its kind. METHODOLOGY: Sixteen IL-10 ko mice received a monoinjection of rm IL-10 into the duodenum while a control group of 16 IL-10 ko mice received an injection of physiological saline. Histology of the entire bowel and plasma concentrations of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma were analyzed on the 3rd or 7th postoperative day. RESULTS: The histological features of the specimens from IL-10 ko mice were, non-specific, segmentary and located mainly in the ileum. Lesions were of more significance in mice injected with physiological saline than in those receiving IL-10 in the proximal ileum, near to the site of injection. Plasma concentrations of IL-6 were higher in IL-10 ko mice than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that there is hyperproduction of Th1 cytokines in IL-10 ko mice and also suggests that endoluminal administration of IL-10 may be envisaged for the treatment or prevention of enterocolitis.