IL-10 suppresses IL-17-mediated dermal inflammation and reduces the systemic burden of Vaccinia virus in a mouse model of eczema vaccinatum

•AD patients are prone to eczema vaccinatum, a severe Vaccinia virus infection.•AD exacerbations are associated with decreased IL-10 function.•IL-10−/− mice were used to test the role of IL-10 in immunity to Vaccinia virus.•IL-10 was found to limit the size of primary lesions induced by Vaccinia virus.•IL-10 suppressed local IL-17 and CXCL2 production and neutrophil infiltration.

Individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) are susceptible to a severe, potentially fatal, systemic infection and inflammatory response following exposure to Vaccinia virus (VV). IL-10 acts both as an inducer of Th2 responses and as a regulator of T cell activation. It has been shown to limit skin inflammation elicited by contact sensitizers. AD exacerbations have been associated with decreased IL-10 function. We used IL-10−/− mice to test the role of the cytokine in VV immunity. They exhibited larger primary lesions and increased cutaneous neutrophil infiltration compared to wild-type (WT) counterparts. This was associated with enhanced production of IL-17A, IL-17F and CXCL2. Paradoxically, despite intact adaptive immune responses, tissue viral burdens were increased in IL-10−/− mice. These findings suggest that IL-10 is important in limiting skin inflammation induced by VV and that abnormal IL-17-driven neutrophil recruitment at the primary infection site in the skin results in increased systemic viral dissemination.