Inflammation-induced functional connectivity of melanin-concentrating hormone and IL-10.

•In contrast to other models of experimental colitis, treatment with a MCHR1 antagonist did not attenuate disease in IL-10 deficient mice.•An underlying mechanism for this observation could be direct interactions between MCH and IL-10.•In vitro, MCH inhibits LPS-induced IL-10 expression in monocytes.•Treatment of monocytes with IL-10 prevents upregulation of MCH receptor 1.•MCH might promote intestinal inflammation via inhibition of anti-inflammatory pathways.