STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION OF GLYCOSAMNOGLYCAN BINDING BY THE IMMUNE-REGULATORY PROTEIN INTERLEUKIN-10

摘要

The immune response against microbial infections bears the intrinsic risk of an immune-mediated inflammatory damage to the host tissue. The cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 is a key regulator of the innate and adaptive immune system, which prevents an overwhelming immune reaction and tissue damage. IL-10 inhibits the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-1, 6, IFNγ, TNFα) and of cell surface molecules (e.g. MHC class II proteins). Thereby, cellular immune responses mediated e.g. by macrophages or T cells are inactivated.