title: Vasopressin replacement of interleukin 2 requirement in gamma interferon production: lymphokine activity of a neuroendocrine hormone.
abstract: The neuroendocrine antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) was capable of replacing the interleukin 2 (IL 2) requirement for gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) production by Lyt-2+ cells from C57BL/6 mouse spleen cells. The AVP replacement did not stimulate DNA synthesis in the target lymphocytes. This suggested that AVP was capable of replacing an IL 2 function that did not involve stimulation of cellular proliferation or DNA synthesis. This was confirmed by the demonstration that mitomycin C inhibition of IFN gamma production was reversed by IL 2 or AVP without concomitant reversal of blockage of DNA synthesis. Oxytocin, which is structurally related to AVP, was also capable of replacing IL 2 requirement for IFN gamma production, whereas insulin was ineffective. The data show that the neuroendocrine hormones AVP and oxytocin are capable of lymphokine-like activity. This activity may involve the induction of a second messenger such as cyclic GMP.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000950:Antigens, Ly; D007328:Insulin; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin; D007372:Interferons