ObjectiveTo study the function of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in inhibiting the activation of dendritic cells (DC) in chronic severe hepatitis B patients. MethodsMonocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of 16 chronic severe hepatitis B patients between March and September 2012, by ficoll-hypaque density gradient centrifugation and then cultured with plastic-adherence method. Dendritic cells were induced and proliferated from the monocytes with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin-4 for 8 days. Hepatitis B virus core antigen and IL-10 were used to the DC culture to treat DC. The expression of surface marker on dendritic cells was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, as well as the interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-12p70 secretion were observed. ResultsThe ratio of CD83, HLA-DR and CD86 positive cells, the concentration of IFN-γ and IL-12p70, as well as the cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity by dendritic cells were significantly increased in hepatitis B virus core antigen treated group and decreased in the IL-10 treated group compared with that in the control group. Meanwhile, the ratio of CD83, HLA-DR and CD86 positive cells, the concentration of IFN-γ and IL-12p70, as well as the cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity by dendritic cells were significantly decreased in IL-10 pretreated plus Hepatitis B virus core antigen treated group compared with that in the hepatitis B virus core antigen treated group. These results indicated that the hepatitis B virus core antigen could induce dendritic cells activation, and IL-10 could inhibit the activation of dendritic cells, even the Hepatitis B virus core antigen being added afterwards. ConclusionIL-10 can inhibit the activation of dendritic cells, and attenuate the cytotoxicity of autologous lymphocytes induced by DC.