title: Neuropeptide alpha-MSH antagonizes IL-6- and TNF-induced fever.
abstract: The pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptide melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) antagonizes the fever induced by several stimuli including endotoxin, endogenous pyrogen, and certain cytokines. To determine if alpha-MSH can antagonize the pyrogenic action of recombinant IL-6 and TNF directly within the central nervous system, the cytokines were injected with and without alpha-MSH (200 ng) into a lateral cerebral ventricle of rabbits and rectal temperature was monitored continuously. Central administration of both cytokines caused fever. However, when alpha-MSH was injected after cytokine administration, the fevers were markedly reduced. The results are consistent with previous observations on the antipyretic effect of alpha-MSH and they show that the peptide can act within the brain to antagonize pyrogenic actions of specific cytokines believed to be important in CNS mediation of fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hiltz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lipton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D011749:Pyrogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011817:Rabbits; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D011749:Pyrogens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000521:alpha-MSH; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors