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When you think of tobacco, is the first thing that comes to mind? You would not think the health benefits, of course. Tobacco use was associated with various diseases, including some forms of cancer, bronchitis, cardiovascular disease and emphysema. But that will change. Scientists at the University of Verona, led by Mario Pezzotti, has developed transgenic tobacco plants accumulating high levels of interleukin 10 (IL10). IL10 is a cytokine regulation (signaling protein) that plays a central role in mediating immune responses. Oral administration of IL10 can prevent attacks from various autoimmune diseases. IL10 also has the potential to treat various human diseases such as type-1 diabetes and some types of cancer.

Transgenic tobacco plants that can produce the correct, the form of a pharmaceutically active IL10. Combination that is made in the high-level (up to 37 microg / g of fresh leaves), making it possible to use the leaves of tobacco without the expensive and tedious process of extraction and purification. IL10 gene that was expressed specifically in the endoplasmic plant reticulum cells. Scientists will test the effectiveness of tobacco-derived IL10 by food for rats with autoimmune diseases.