title: Release of multiple hormones by a direct action of interleukin-1 on pituitary cells.
abstract: Exposure to bacterial endotoxins has long been known to stimulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones; administration of endotoxin was at one time a common clinical test of anterior pituitary function. Endotoxin is a potent stimulus for production of the endogenous pyrogenic protein, interleukin-1 (IL-1), by macrophages and monocytes. The possibility that IL-1 has a direct effect on the secretion of hormones by rat pituitary cells in a monolayer culture was investigated. Recombinant human IL-1 beta stimulated the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, growth hormone, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Increased hormone secretion into culture supernatants was found with IL-1 concentrations ranging from 10(-9) M to 10(-12) M. Prolactin secretion by the monolayers was inhibited by similar doses. These concentrations of IL-1 are within the range reported for IL-1 in serum, suggesting that IL-1 generated peripherally by mononuclear immune cells may act directly on anterior pituitary cells to modulate hormone secretion in vivo. Incubation of IL-1 solutions with antibody to IL-1 neutralized these actions. These pituitary effects of IL-1 suggest that this monokine may be an important regulator of the metabolic adaptations to infectious stressors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychiatry, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C. 20307-5100.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Bernton
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Holaday
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Smallridge
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Fein
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D015232:Dinoprostone