title: Cytokine expression and molecular mechanisms of their auto/paracrine regulation of anterior pituitary function and growth.
abstract: The pituitary gland expresses cytokines and their receptors. IL-2 receptor transcripts and protein products are co-localized in ACTH-, PRL-, and GH-producing cells (double immunofluorescence). IL-2 and IL-6 (1-1000 IU/ml) are involved in the autocrine/paracrine regulation of normal and tumor (GH3 mammosomatotroph cell line and adenoma cell cultures) anterior pituitary hormone-producing cell growth (cell number, DNA synthesis, c-fos mRNA expression and autoradiography combined with hormone staining). IL-1 regulates the growth of normal pituitary cells but does not act on GH3 cells. IL-1ra, which blocks this action, is expressed in tumoral pituitary (mainly GH- and ACTH-) cells. In ACTH- cells, IL-1 enhances glucocorticoid feedback, stimulating glucocorticoid response element transcriptional activity. Cytokines, through specific functional receptors, act as inter/auto-cellular factors that regulate not only the function but also the growth of anterior pituitary cells.
authors.affiliation: Departamentó de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. earzt@bg.fcem.uba.ar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arzt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Páez Pereda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Holsboer
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Stalla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2