Runge, Elizabeth M.Setter, Deborah O.Iyer, Abhirami K.Regele, Eric J.Kennedy, Felicia M.Sanders, Virginia M.Jones, Kathryn J.2023-09-062023-09-062022-10-09Runge EM, Setter DO, Iyer AK, et al. Cellular Sources and Neuroprotective Roles of Interleukin-10 in the Facial Motor Nucleus after Axotomy. Cells. 2022;11(19):3167. Published 2022 Oct 9. doi:10.3390/cells11193167https://hdl.handle.net/1805/35394Facial motoneuron (FMN) survival is mediated by CD4+ T cells in an interleukin-10 (IL-10)-dependent manner after facial nerve axotomy (FNA), but CD4+ T cells themselves are not the source of this neuroprotective IL-10. The aims of this study were to (1) identify the temporal and cell-specific induction of IL-10 expression in the facial motor nucleus and (2) elucidate the neuroprotective capacity of this expression after axotomy. Immunohistochemistry revealed that FMN constitutively produced IL-10, whereas astrocytes were induced to make IL-10 after FNA. Il10 mRNA co-localized with microglia before and after axotomy, but microglial production of IL-10 protein was not detected. To determine whether any single source of IL-10 was critical for FMN survival, Cre/Lox mouse strains were utilized to selectively knock out IL-10 in neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. In agreement with the localization data reflecting concerted IL-10 production by multiple cell types, no single cellular source of IL-10 alone could provide neuroprotection after FNA. These findings suggest that coordinated neuronal and astrocytic IL-10 production is necessary for FMN survival and has roles in neuronal homeostasis, as well as neuroprotective trophism after axotomy.en-USAttribution 4.0 InternationalCD4+ T cellIL-10AstrocyteAxotomyFacial nerveMotoneuronNerve injuryNeuroprotectionArticle