Inhibition of tissue factor surface expression in human peripheral blood monocytes exposed to cytokines

Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-13 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) are known to regulate several monocyte functions, including inhibition of the synthesis of different cytokines. Using quantitative RT-PCR and flow cytometry analysis we investigated the effects of these cytokines on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor (TF) expression in human monocytes. The effects of IL-4 and IL-10 on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)- and C-reactive protein (CRP)-induced TF expression were also studied. A direct comparison revealed that IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 all down-regulated LPS-induced TF expression in a concentration-dependent manner without the need for priming. In contrast, TGF-β required 4 h of priming to inhibit TF expression induced by LPS. IL-10 was the most powerful inhibitor, causing almost complete inhibition at 5 ng/ml. IL-4 and IL-13 exhibited a significantly lower inhibitory capacity even at concentrations of 100 ng/ml. IL-4 and IL-10 showed similar concentration-dependent inhibition of MCP-1- and CRP-induced TF expression. We also showed that the regulatory effect of the interleukins occurred at the mRNA level. In vivo , these inhibitory cytokines may play an important regulatory role in preventing thrombosis. IL-10, in particular, may be a possible candidate as a TF-preventing drug.