title: Corticotropin-releasing hormone augments proinflammatory cytokine production from macrophages in vitro and in lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxin shock in mice.
abstract: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) exerts an anti-inflammatory effect indirectly, via cortisole production, and a proinflammatory effect directly on immune cells. The aim of the present work was to examine the effect of CRH on macrophage-derived cytokines both in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro experiments we used two types of macrophages: (i) the RAW264.7 monocyte/macrophage cell line and (ii) thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. We have found that CRH enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6 production. For the in vivo experiments we have used the LPS-induced endotoxin shock model in BALB/c mice, an established model for systemic inflammation in which macrophages are the major source of the proinflammatory cytokines responsible for the development of the shock. Administration of antalarmin, a synthetic CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) antagonist, prior to LPS prolonged survival in a statistically significant manner. The effect was more evident at the early stages of endotoxin shock. CRHR1 blockade suppressed LPS-induced elevation of the macrophage-derived cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6, confirming the role of CRH signals in cytokine expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that CRH signals play an early and crucial role in augmenting LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages. Our data suggest that the diffuse neuroendocrine system via CRH directly affects the immune system at the level of macrophage activation and cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Clinical Chemistry-Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agelaki
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsatsanis
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravanis
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Margioris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; C103016:antalarmin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone