Interleukin-10 gene therapy attenuates pulmonary tissue injury caused by mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion in a mouse model.

To investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-10 gene therapy on the reperfusion-induced lung injury, we utilised the technique of liposomal gene delivery before the induction of intestinal ischemia. Plasmid DNA encoding human IL10 (hIL-10) or empy vector was injected intraperitoneally 24 h before the study. Male Balb/c mice randomized into three groups: Sham operated control (n = 12), empty plasmid vector (n = 12), and hIL-10 gene therapy group (n = 12). The ischemia was generated by selective occlusion of superior mesenteric artery for 60 min and followed by reperfusion for 30 min. Lung tissue neutrophil infiltration was determined by myeloperoxidase assay and neutrophil counts. For the determination of lung tissue microvascular permeability, Evans blue dye injection was made and the lung edema was assessed by wet/dry ratio. hIL-10 protein expression was studied by immunostaining and ELISA. We found that pre-ischemic hIL-10 overexpression attenuated dye extravasation, leukocyte sequestration and reduced pulmonary tissue injury compared to the empty vector-injected control. Our study indicates that pre-ischemic hIL-10 overexpression attenuates lung injury caused by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.