title: Differential effects of recombinant interleukin-1 alpha and beta on Leydig cell function.
abstract: Previously we have reported that human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG)-stimulated testosterone biosynthesis was markedly inhibited by purified natural human interleukin-1 (IL-1). In the present study we evaluated the effects of human and murine recombinant IL-1 (rIL-1) on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in primary culture. Human rIL-1 beta caused a dose-dependent inhibition of hCG-, 8-bromo cyclic AMP-, and forskolin-induced testosterone formation. In contrast, human rIL-1 alpha was considerably less potent. When the effects of the cytokines were corrected for their biological potencies, human rIL-1 beta and murine rIL-1 alpha were still more effective than human rIL-1 alpha in inhibiting testosterone production (at least 100-fold more potent). Thus, even though IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta bind to the same receptors on T cells, Leydig cells exhibit differential sensitivity in response to rIL-1 alpha and rIL-1 beta which is partly species dependent.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Research Services, WJB Dorn Veterans Hospital, Columbia, South Carolina.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Calkins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sigel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005576:Colforsin; D013739:Testosterone; D000242:Cyclic AMP