title: Endogenous alpha-MSH modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to the cytokine interleukin-1beta.
abstract: We and others have previously shown that exogenous alpha-MSH antagonizes the stimulatory effects of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It is currently unknown, however, if endogenous alpha-MSH plays a physiological role in regulating the HPA response to IL-1. We have therefore examined the HPA response to IL-1beta in rats pretreated with an affinity purified alpha-MSH antiserum (AS) infused intracerebroventricularly to neutralize endogenous alpha-MSH within the brain. alpha-MSH AS or a similarly purified fraction of normal rabbit serum (NRS) was injected intracerebroventricularly at 16 h and at 1 h prior to the i.c.v. injection of IL-1beta (2 ng or 20 ng) and blood samples were collected through an indwelling atrial catheter. After 2 ng IL-1beta, the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response was significantly greater in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats (n = 7) compared to the NRS treated rats (n = 7) (P <0.01); the mean ACTH level rose to a peak of 594+208 pg/ml in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats vs 274+/-122 pg/ml in the NRS treated rats. The area under the ACTH response curve in the alpha-MSH AS treated animals was 181% of that in the NRS treated animals (P<0.05). A significant effect of alpha-MSH AS on the corticosterone response to i.c.v. IL-1beta was also noted during the first 3 h of the study (P<0.05). The mean area under the corticosterone response curve for the first 3 h in the alpha-MSH AS treated animals was 144% of that in the NRS treated animals (P <0.05). After 20 ng IL-1beta, the ACTH response over time was again significantly greater in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats (n=8) compared to the NRS treated rats (n=9) (P<0.02); the mean ACTH level rose to a peak of 673+/-190 pg/ml after alpha-MSH AS vs 490+/-115 pg/ml after NRS. Corticosterone levels rose to a peak of 42+/-3.9 microg/dl in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats vs 37+/-4.6 microg/dl in the NRS treated rats; this difference was not significant. We conclude that the IL-1beta induced stimulation of ACTH is significantly enhanced by antagonizing the activity of alpha-MSH. These results support a physiological role for endogenous alpha-MSH in limiting the HPA response to this inflammatory cytokine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wardlaw
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007106:Immune Sera; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone