IL-10, But Not IL-4, Suppresses Infection-Stimulated Bone Resorption In Vivo1

Periapical bone resorption occurs following infection of the dental pulp and is mediated mainly by IL-1α in the murine model. The production and activity of IL-1α is modulated by a network of regulatory cytokines, including those produced by Th1 (pro-inflammatory) and Th2 (anti-inflammatory) subset T cells. This study was designed to assess the functional role of the Th2-type cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 in infection-stimulated bone resorption in vivo. The dental pulps of the first molars were exposed and infected with a mixture of four common endodontic pathogens, and bone destruction was determined by micro-computed tomography at sacrifice on day 21. The results demonstrate that IL-10−/− mice had significantly greater infection-stimulated bone resorption in vivo compared with wild-type mice (p < 0.001), whereas IL-4−/− exhibited no increased resorption. IL-10−/− had markedly elevated IL-1α production within periapical inflammatory tissues (>10-fold) compared with wild type (p < 0.01), whereas IL-4−/− exhibited decreased IL-1α production (p < 0.05). IL-10 also suppressed IL-1α production by macrophages in a dose-dependent fashion in vitro, whereas IL-4 had weak and variable effects. We conclude that IL-10, but not IL-4, is an important endogenous suppressor of infection-stimulated bone resorption in vivo, likely acting via inhibition of IL-1α expression.