Interleukin-10 limits the initial steps of the cardiorenal damage induced by ethanol consumption

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines play a critical role in organ damage induced by ethanol consumption. Interleukin (IL)-10 maintain tissue homeostasis through restriction of excessive inflammatory responses and inhibition of ROS generation. These responses limit unnecessary tissue damage in the cardiorenal system. We hypothesized that IL-10 would limit the deleterious effects induced by ethanol consumption in the cardiorenal system. Male C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) or IL10-deficient mice (IL-10−/−) were treated with ethanol (20% v/v) for 6 weeks. IL-10 deficiency was associated with an increased mortality rate. Ethanol consumption decreased plasma levels of IL-10 in WT mice. Increased levels of IL-6 were detected in the aorta from IL-10-deficient mice, but not WT mice. No alterations in the levels of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium or creatine kinase (CK)-MB were found after treatment with ethanol. Augmented concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was found in the left ventricle (LV) of IL-10-deficient mice, but not WT mice. Increased levels of superoxide anion (O2−) were found in the renal cortex of both WT and IL-10-deficient mice. Renal cortex from WT mice chronically treated with ethanol showed decreased levels of H2O2. No changes in the expression of Nox1, Nox4 or catalase were found in the renal cortex from ethanol-treated mice. IL-10 limited the production of ROS and the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by ethanol in the cardiorenal system. These findings provided novel evidence that IL-10 counteracted the initial mechanisms whereby ethanol induces its cardiorenal damages.