Acute adrenocortical stimulation by recombinant gamma interferon in human controls.
We examined the effect of 20 micrograms recombinant gamma-interferon (rec-gamma-IFN) upon corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol secretion in 10 healthy male controls. We observed that rec-gamma-IFN enhances cortisol secretion with maxima around 3 hours after injection of the test dose. This effect was suppressible by a single dose of 1.5 mg dexamethasone and was not associated with increased ACTH secretion. Rec-gamma-IFN also failed to enhance ACTH secretion from a pituitary cell culture. From these data we conclude that rec-gamma-IFN acts on lymphoid cells which in turn release a yet unidentified substance that directly activates the adrenocortex in a feedback controlled manner.
Holsboer
F
F
Department of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, FRG.
Stalla
G K
GK
von Bardeleben
U
U
Hammann
K
K
Müller
H
H
Müller
O A
OA
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone