Premium
Induction of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Release by Interleukin‐6 In Vivo and In Vitro a
Author(s) -
LYSON KRZYSZTOF,
McCANN SAMUEL M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1992.tb49118.x
Subject(s) - monokine , medicine , endocrinology , adrenocorticotropic hormone , hypothalamus , incubation , interleukin , in vivo , chemistry , pituitary gland , tumor necrosis factor alpha , hormone , in vitro , biology , cytokine , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Recent reports show that cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and intravenously administered interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulate adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release. Both IL-1 and TNF are known to be potent inducers of IL-6, a monokine produced by activated monocytes and folliculo-stellate cells of the pituitary gland and released from the hypothalamus. To determine the site(s) of action of IL-6 in the control of ACTH release, we injected human recombinant IL-6 into the third brain ventricle (3V) of freely moving, conscious male rats and measured ACTH by RIA. Both 0.05 pmole and 0.25 pmole doses of IL-6 were ineffective to change plasma ACTH in comparison to the values in controls. The maximal IL-6 dose tested of 1.25 pmole increased plasma ACTH within 15 min and the response lasted over 180 min. The effects of IL-6 on plasma ACTH were only partially paralleled by increased rectal temperature which suggests that hypothalamic temperature regulating centers were independent of these actions. To evaluate a possible direct effect on the pituitary, IL-6 was incubated in vitro with hemipituitaries under an atmosphere of 95% O2/5% CO2. After 1 hr of incubation IL-6 failed to cause any change in the secretion of ACTH throughout a concentration range of 10(-15) to 10(-9) M. Increased ACTH secretion into the incubation medium was found only with 10(-13) M IL-6 after a 2-hr incubation. The results support a possible role for IL-6 at both hypothalamic and/or pituitary levels to stimulate ACTH release.