Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with a wide range of biological activities, secreted by antigen-presenting cells such as activated T cells, monocytes, B cells, and macrophages. IL-10 plays a pleiotropic role in immunoregulation and inflammation, downregulating the expression of Th1 cytokines, MHC class II antigens, and co-stimulatory molecules on macrophages, and enhancing the survival, proliferation, and antibody production of B cells. IL-10 can block NF-kB activity and participate in the regulation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. In addition, IL-10 can also activate PI3K and its downstream substrates p70S6K and Akt/PKB. Overexpression of IL-10 (such as in systemic lupus erythematosus, tuberculosis) and IL-10 deficiency (such as in inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis) have different pathophysiological significance. Therefore, neutralizing cytokines may be an effective method for treating the former group of diseases, while the application of IL-10 itself may help treat the latter group of diseases.

This strain is an Il10 gene knockout (Il10 KO) mouse, in which the Il10 gene homologous to the human IL10 gene has been knocked out in mice using gene editing technology. Homozygous Il10-KO mice do not produce the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and can survive and reproduce under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. This strain is maintained in a high-standard SPF environment in Cyagen facilities, and its phenotype differs from that of Il10 knockout mice raised in conventional mouse facilities as reported in the literature. For example, the development of colitis in this model may be slow or non-spontaneous, but the introduction of microbes or fecal microbiota may cause rapid development of colitis in adult animals. Homozygous Il10 KO mice are viable and fertile.