title: The role of immunopeptides in the regulation of anterior pituitary hormone release.
abstract: The anterior pituitary lobe secretes hormones that regulate the functioning of the immune system which, in turn, produces thymic hormones and interleukin proteins capable of altering neuroendocrine responsiveness. Interleukin-1 is released during inflammation and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which subsequently diminishes the immune response. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulates prolactin and growth hormone release in vitro from anterior pituitary cells which, in turn, are capable of producing IL-6. The possible production of IL-6 by the anterior pituitary in situ suggests an autocrine and/or paracrine role for this cytokine in the regulation of hormone release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and the Center for Cancer Research, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Spangelo
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Macleod