title: Cytokines: regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.
abstract: Many of the pro-inflammatory cytokines that are released in response to immune/inflammatory insults exert marked stimulatory influences on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Thus, they provoke the release of glucocorticoids that, in turn, temper the ensuing immune/inflammatory response, and thereby complete a homeostatic neuroendocrine loop. The mechanisms by which cytokines cause glucocorticoid release are complex and can be affected by repeated or sustained cytokine exposure, gender and age, or counter-regulatory mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroendocrinology, Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Julia C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Buckingham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines