Interleukin 10 overexpression alters survival in the setting of gram-negative pneumonia following lung contusion

Objective Lung contusion injury produces a vulnerable window within the inflammatory defenses of the lung that predisposes the patient to pneumonia. IL-10 is a known anti-inflammatory mediator produced by macrophages and capable of down-regulating acute lung inflammation. We investigated the impact of increased levels of IL-10 within the lung on survival and the host response to trauma in the setting of lung contusion and Gram-negative pneumonia.