The dual nature of interleukin-10 in pemphigus vulgaris

•The cytokine IL-10 has myriad functions in maintaining immune homeostasis.•IL-10 may have both harmful and beneficial regulatory roles in pemphigus vulgaris.•IL-10 based therapies in pemphigus vulgaris may be a novel strategy for treatment. The immunomodulatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays beneficial but also potentially detrimental roles in inflammation, infection, and autoimmunity. Recent studies suggest a regulatory role for IL-10-expressing B cells in the autoimmune blistering disease pemphigus vulgaris. Here we review the studies on IL-10 in pemphigus vulgaris and discuss the potential pathophysiological significance of these findings in comparison to prior studies of IL-10 in other human conditions. A better understanding of the complex roles of IL-10 in immune regulation may improve our understanding of pemphigus pathogenesis and treatment.