Interleukin-1 and glucose homeostasis: an example of the biological relevance of immune-neuroendocrine interactions.
Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a cytokine mainly produced by monocytes-macrophages, plays a crucial role in immunological and inflammatory processes. We have recently demonstrated that IL-1 can also affect neuroendocrine mechanisms. In this paper, we refer to the capacity of IL-1 to affect glucose homeostasis. In normal mice, low doses of IL-1 induce a long-lasting hypoglycemia which is not dependent on possible insulin-secretagogue actions of this cytokine. The hypoglycemic effect of IL-1 is also observed in insulin-resistant diabetic mice. Furthermore, IL-1 seems to adjust the 'set point' for glucose regulation to a lower level. The effects of IL-1 on glucose homeostasis constitute a clear example of the biological relevance of immune-neuroendocrine interactions.
Besedovsky
H O
HO
Medizinische Abteilung, Schweizerisches Forschungsinstitut, Davos, Schweiz.
del Rey
A
A
D000818:Animals; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D007375:Interleukin-1; D005947:Glucose