Interleukin-1 stimulates interleukin-6 release from rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro

We have reported previously that anterior pituitary cells released interleukin-6 (IL-6) and that this release was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), or agents that increased intracellular cAMP concentrations. We now report that IL-1 stimulates IL-6 release from anterior pituitary cells in vitro. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta (0.04-25 ng/ml) significantly increased IL-6 release 3- to 4-fold in a concentration-related manner during 6-h incubations; however, there was no change in extracellular or intracellular cAMP concentrations. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta (10 ng/ml), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 500 nM), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 1 microM), and LPS (1 ng/ml) stimulated IL-6 release to a similar degree. In the presence of VIP and PGE2, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta increased IL-6 release without any apparent further change in extracellular or intracellular cAMP. Conversely, LPS did not increase cAMP concentrations, and IL-1 did not significantly increase IL-6 release in the presence of LPS. The preexposure of anterior pituitary cells to 1 microM PMA caused the apparent down-regulation of protein kinase C activity because 100 nM PMA was no longer effective to stimulate IL-6 release; however, the ability of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, PGE2, or LPS to stimulate IL-6 release was not altered. In addition, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta stimulated IL-6 release in the presence of maximally stimulative concentrations of PMA. The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (10 nM) significantly inhibited IL-6 release induced by IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, or LPS. The separation of anterior pituitary cells on unit gravity BSA gradients generated fractions of IL-6-producing cells that were inducible by LPS and IL-1 beta and separate from the PRL-, ACTH-, GH-, or LH-producing cell fractions. These data suggest that IL-1 stimulates IL-6 release from a subpopulation of anterior pituitary cells via a glucocorticoid-sensitive and non-cAMP-mediated pathway that is different from those pathways used by VIP, PGE2, and PMA.     

Endotoxin-induced release of interleukin-6 from rat medial basal hypothalami

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory cytokine that stimulates T-cell activation and B-cell differentiation. We recently reported that picomolar concentrations of IL-6 stimulated PRL, GH, and LH release in vitro. These data suggested that IL-6 may function as a hypothalamic releasing factor for anterior pituitary hormones. Medial basal hypothalami (MBH) were incubated for 60-90 min in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer supplemented with 0.025% BSA, and the conditioned medium was assayed for IL-6 concentrations by the 7TD1 cell growth factor assay. It was found that MBH released IL-6 in vitro. Although depolarizing concentrations of K+ (56 mM) did not increase IL-6 release, somatostatin release from the MBH was increased significantly. The bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1-100 ng/ml) induced significant increases in IL-6 release from the MBH. The presence of IL-6 in the hypothalamus suggested a possible role for this cytokine in the regulation of neuropeptide release; however, the release of somatostatin was not affected by 20 ng/ml IL-6. Comparison studies of neural and neuroendocrine tissues revealed that the anterior and posterior pituitaries released larger amounts of bioactive IL-6 than the MBH or parietal cortex during a 4-h incubation; induction of IL-6 release by endotoxin occurred only in the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus. IL-6 mRNA was detectable in the MBH and anterior pituitary tissue after a 4-h incubation; however, no IL-6 mRNA was detectable in freshly isolated tissues. LPS (100 ng/ml) and (Bu)2cAMP (1 mM) increased IL-6 mRNA accumulation in and IL-6 release from the MBH and anterior pituitary. These data suggest that the MBH synthesizes and releases IL-6 via a nonneuronal source in vitro.     

Interleukin-6 stimulates anterior pituitary hormone release in vitro

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine produced by inflammatory reactions, was found to stimulate PRL, GH and LH release from anterior pituitary cells at concentrations similar to those which affected lymphocyte mitogenesis. Perifused pituitary cells responded to IL-6 with prompt increases in hormone release that declined rapidly following cessation of exposure. Dopamine (DA) attenuated IL6-induced PRL release. In addition, IL-6 potentiated both GHRF- and TRH-induced hormone release without an affect on intracellular cAMP. These data demonstrate a new biological activity for IL-6 and provide evidence for immune system regulation of anterior pituitary hormone release.     

Production of interleukin-6 by anterior pituitary cells in vitro

We recently reported that the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent stimulator of anterior pituitary hormone release in vitro. Since IL-6 is not normally detectable in the blood, we hypothesized that IL-6 may be produced by the anterior pituitary in situ and thereby affect hormone secretion through paracrine or autocrine mechanisms. The present study demonstrates that cultured anterior pituitary cells spontaneously secrete large quantities of IL-6 in vitro. IL-6 was detectable in the incubation medium within 2 h, and by 8 h of culture had attained concentrations of 2000-4000 U/ml.4 x 10(5) cells. IL-6 production was stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (10-100 nM) approximately 2-fold and by lipopolysaccharide (0.001-10.0 micrograms/ml) 4-fold during 4-h incubations. In contrast, the cytokine recombinant human IL-1 alpha had no effect on IL-6 release by cultured pituitary cells. Freshly dissected hemipituitary tissue also secreted more than 3000 U/ml IL-6 during a 4-h incubation. This secretion was enhanced 3-fold by 10 micrograms/ml lipopolysaccharide. Our results suggest that the anterior pituitary may produce IL-6 in situ, where it may function as an intrapituitary releasing factor.     

The role of immunopeptides in the regulation of anterior pituitary hormone release

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.     

Binding sites for interleukin-6 in the anterior pituitary gland.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) binding site in the rat anterior pituitary gland was characterized using radioiodinated human recombinant (hr) IL-6. Results showed that the anterior pituitary gland contained 170 binding sites per cell of a single class with a dissociation constant of 2.7 x 10(-9) M. The binding of 125I-hrIL-6 to the rat anterior pituitary gland was competitively inhibited by unlabeled hrIL-6, but not by hrIL-1 alpha, hrIL-1 beta, hrIL-2 or hr-interferon-gamma, indicating these binding sites are specific for IL-6. We also demonstrated mouse IL-6 receptor gene expression in the rat anterior pituitary gland by Northern blot analysis. Furthermore, the IL-6 receptor was detected on human gonadotrophs by the double immunofluorescence method. Our findings demonstrate the presence and expression of IL-6 binding site in the rat anterior pituitary gland and the presence of IL-6 binding site on human gonadotrophs, suggesting the important role of IL-6 binding site in pituitary hormone release in both species.     

Inhibition of suckling-induced prolactin release by dexamethasone.

The effect of dexamethasone (DEX) treatment (400 and 200 micrograms/kg BW 21 and 2 h before suckling stimulus, respectively) on suckling- and domperidone (DOMP)-induced PRL release was investigated in freely moving, primiparous lactating rats. DEX completely blocked suckling-induced plasma PRL release without affecting DOMP-induced release of the hormone suggesting a central action of DEX. The effect was transient because it could not be detected on the second day of testing. The effect of DEX implanted in three different brain areas on suckling- and DOMP-induced PRL release was also tested. Implants surrounding the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei and dorsal hippocampus failed to affect PRL release induced by suckling stimulus. Surprisingly, DEX suppressed PRL release induced by suckling stimulus when it was implanted into the medial basal hypothalamus. These findings demonstrate that DEX is a potent inhibitor of the suckling-induced PRL release. They also indicate that the site of action of DEX is not at the anterior pituitary gland or the paraventricular nuclei and hippocampus because DEX treatment and DEX implants had no effect on plasma PRL levels induced by DOMP and suckling stimulus, respectively. Our data suggest that the effect of DEX is mediated through a region of the medial basal hypothalamus. The observed transient block in suckling-induced PRL release may be physiologically relevant during stress in lactating mothers for conserving pituitary stores of the hormone needed for milk production or being able to adapt to a rapid change in osmoregulation.     

Differential regulation of type II corticosteroid receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression in the rat anterior pituitary and hippocampus

The present study was designed to characterize the regulation of the type II corticosteroid receptor (GR) mRNA in two tissues involved in the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We have used a solution hybridization/S1 nuclease protection assay to quantitate GR mRNA levels in the rat hippocampus and anterior pituitary after CRF, dexamethasone (DEX), or corticosterone (CORT) treatment. In general, hippocampal GR mRNA levels increased after removal of endogenous corticosteroids by surgical adrenalectomy and decreased in response to glucocorticoid treatment. More specifically, in the hippocampus 1) GR mRNA expression was decreased when adrenalectomized (ADX) animals were replaced with a relatively low dose of CORT, but not with a low dose of DEX; 2) acutely, CRF was more effective than DEX in decreasing the levels of GR mRNA in intact animals; however, under the same paradigm in ADX animals, DEX decreased the level of GR mRNA, whereas CRF was ineffective; and 3) in contrast to the decrease in GR mRNA levels observed after acute and low doses of glucocorticoid treatment, chronic treatment with either DEX or CORT did not change the level of hippocampal GR mRNA. These results suggest that in the hippocampus the decrease in GR mRNA expression after CRF treatment is probably via the release of glucocorticoids, and that this tissue is more sensitive to endogenous glucocorticoids than DEX. Anterior pituitary GR mRNA was differentially regulated compared with that in the hippocampus. In marked contrast to Gr mRNA in the hippocampus, ADX did not alter anterior pituitary GR mRNA expression, and glucocorticoid treatment led to an increase in GR mRNA levels. In the anterior pituitary 1) glucocorticoid treatment led to an increase in GR mRNA expression, when replaced with a relatively low dose of DEX, but not when replaced with a low dose of CORT; 2) acutely, neither CRF nor DEX altered levels of GR mRNA in intact animals; however, under the same paradigm DEX increased levels in ADX animals; and 3) chronic DEX or CORT treatment of intact animals elevated levels of anterior pituitary GR mRNA. In summary, these data have demonstrated tissue-specific regulation of GR mRNA in the hippocampus and anterior pituitary, which is dependent on both the dose and length of treatment and, in addition, on the glucocorticoid itself.     

Induction of interleukin-6 release by interleukin-1 in rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro: evidence for an eicosanoid-dependent mechanism

We have reported previously that a subpopulation(s) of anterior pituitary cells released IL-6 and that this release was stimulated by interleukin-1 (IL-1) through a non-cAMP-dependent mechanism. We now report that IL-1 induces IL-6 release from anterior pituitary cells in an eicosanoid-dependent manner. Dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells were briefly prelabeled (2-3 h) with [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) to esterify the fatty acid within the lipid pool. Incubation of these prelabeled cells with 25 ng/ml IL-1 beta caused an increase only within 1-2 min in the amount of free [3H]AA detected in the extracts of the cells. During 15- to 30-min incubations, IL-1 beta (25 ng/ml) caused an increased accumulation of [3H]AA in the incubation medium which reached levels similar to those induced by 100 nM TRH. Perifused anterior pituitary cells responded to IL-1 beta (25 ng/ml) with a rapid (less than 2 min), biphasic, and reversible efflux of [3H]AA. The [3H]AA appears to have been derived from choline phospholipids, as formation of [3H]glycerophosphorylcholine was substantially increased by exposure of [3H]choline-prelabeled cells to either IL-1 alpha (171%) or IL-1 beta (236%); in addition, the complete deacylation of phosphatidylcholine suggests that other fatty acid species are liberated as a consequence of IL-1 receptor activation and, thus, may also contribute to the actions of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta. However, the levels of [3H]phosphorylcholine and [3H]choline were unchanged as well as those of catabolites of other lipid species. These data suggested an involvement of phospholipase-A2 (PLA2) in mediating the IL-1 induction of IL-6 release. Subsequently, we used inhibitors of the PLA2, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase enzymes to investigate a possible role for the generation of AA and its subsequent enzymatic conversion in the signal transduction pathway activated by IL-1. The PLA2 inhibitor aristolochic acid (10 microM) blocked IL-1 beta-induced IL-6 release and the release of IL-6 caused by Pyrularia pubera thionin (5 micrograms/ml), a stimulator of PLA2 activity. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10 microM) did not inhibit IL-1 beta-induced IL-6 release. In contrast, the general lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (10 microM) and the more specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors AA861 and RHC5901 (both 10 microM) reduced basal and blocked IL-1 beta-induced IL-6-release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Opiate modulation of the anterior pituitary hormone response during suckling in the rat

We have investigated the influence of endogenous opiates on hormone responses during suckling in the rat. In complementary experiments, opiate receptors were blocked by naloxone (NAL) or endogenous opiate release from the pituitary was inhibited by dexamethasone (DEX). Serial blood samples from unanesthetized suckled rats were then assayed for plasma PRL, beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI), TSH, and GH levels. Identical studies were also done in saline-treated (control) suckled rats and in unsuckled rats exposed to control objects. Whereas suckling caused a rise in plasma PRL, beta-END-LI, and GH, introduction of plastic control objects did not elevate hormone levels. NAL blocked the GH rise and depressed TSH levels, but did not significantly inhibit the PRL or beta-END-LI response. DEX prevented the beta-END-LI rise and blocked the GH rise, but did not inhibit TSH. DEX enhanced PRL release during suckling. These results demonstrate that 1) the responses of beta-END-LI, PRL, and GH are not an artifact of the sampling procedure; 2) PRL release during suckling is independent of beta-END-LI release by the pituitary; and 3) suckling stimulates the release of ACTH, beta-END, and beta-lipotropin from the anterior pituitary. Our results are consistent with both a role of pituitary beta-END in the control of GH and a role of corticosterone in the control of PRL during suckling.     

Involvement of arachidonic acid cascade pathways in interleukin-6-stimulated corticotropin-releasing factor release in vitro.

We have demonstrated that centrally administered interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulates adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion by a direct effect on corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) release from the hypothalamus. Since metabolites of the arachidonic acid cascade (AAC) have been implicated in mediating actions of cytokines in different tissues and some AAC inhibitors were able to block pyrogenic effects of cytokines and suppress IL-1-induced ACTH secretion, we decided to examine the mechanism of IL-6 action on CRF release in vitro. After a 60-min preincubation in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, medial basal hypothalami (MBH) were preincubated for 30 min with dexamethasone (DEX), a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, to block arachidonic acid (AA) formation, or with inhibitors of AA metabolism: a cyclooxygenase inhibitor--indomethacin (IND); a lipoxygenase inhibitor--5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid (ETI), and an epoxygenase inhibitor--clotrimazole (CLO). Then, the medium was discarded and MBH were incubated with medium or the above compounds and/or IL-6 for 30 min, and CRF release into the incubation medium was measured by radioimmunoassay. As reported previously, 10(-13) M IL-6 increased CRF release, which was significantly suppressed by DEX in a dose-dependent manner. The suppression was already highly significant at a concentration of 10(-11) M DEX and became maximal at 10(-7) M, at which concentration CRF release was no longer stimulated by IL-6. The response to IL-6 was completely blocked at the highest DEX concentration evaluated (10(-5) M). CLO also suppressed IL-6-induced CRF release with a minimal effective dose of 10(-9) M. Suppression was complete at 10(-7) and 10(-5) M.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Production of interleukin-6 by anterior pituitary cells is stimulated by increased intracellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and vasoactive intestinal peptide

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory cytokine that is produced by a variety of cells and tissues. We recently demonstrated that IL-6 is produced by anterior pituitary cells in response to the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide and phorbol diester in vitro. Lipopolysaccharide (0.01-100 ng/ml) increased, whereas dexamethasone (0.1-100 nM) decreased, IL-6 production by anterior pituitary cells in vitro as measured by the 7TD1 cell growth factor assay. In addition, we now report that IL-6 production by anterior pituitary cells is stimulated by agents that elevate intracellular cAMP concentrations. Exposure of anterior pituitary cells to (Bu)2cAMP (0.01-10 mM), prostaglandin E2 (1.0-1000 nM), forskolin (50-1000 nM), or cholera toxin (0.25-250 ng/ml) for 6 h resulted in concentration-related increases in the production of IL-6, which, in the cases of forskolin and cholera toxin, correlated well with increased intracellular cAMP concentrations. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (1-1000 nM), which stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in the anterior pituitary, caused a concentration-related enhancement of IL-6 production that was unaffected in the presence of 10-100 nM somatostatin. In contrast, GH-releasing factor had no effect on IL-6 production. These data suggest that anterior pituitary cells produce IL-6 in response to increased intracellular cAMP, and that the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide may act to regulate IL-6 production.     

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is released from pituitary folliculo-stellate-like cells by endotoxin and dexamethasone and attenuates the steroid-induced inhibition of interleukin 6 release

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by peripheral immune cells and also by endocrine cells in the anterior pituitary gland. MIF exerts its proinflammatory actions in the host-defense system by blocking the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on the release of other proinflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-1, IL-6, TNFalpha). Reports that pituitary folliculo-stellate (FS) cells share many characteristics with immune cells led us to propose that these cells may serve as an additional source of MIF in the pituitary and that pituitary-derived MIF may act in an autocrine or paracrine manner to modulate endotoxin-induced cytokine release from FS cells. In the present study we addressed this hypothesis by using 1) immunohistochemistry to localize MIF in primary pituitary tissue and 2) well-characterized FS (TtT/GF), corticotroph (AtT20), and macrophage/monocyte (RAW 264.7) cell lines to explore the effects of CRH, endotoxin, and dexamethasone on MIF release and to examine the effects of MIF on IL-6 release. Our immunohistochemical study showed that MIF is expressed in abundance in S100-positive FS cells and also in other pituitary cell types. All three cell lines expressed MIF protein and responded to endotoxin (10-1000 ng/ml, 24 h) and dexamethasone (100 pM to 10 nM, 24 h) with concentration-dependent increases in MIF release. CRH (10-100 nM) also stimulated MIF release from AtT20 cells but, unlike endotoxin and dexamethasone, it had no effect on MIF release from TtT/GF or RAW cells. Recombinant MIF did not affect the basal release of IL-6 from TtT/GF cells; however, it effectively reversed the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone (1 nM) on the endotoxin-induced release of IL-6 from these cells. The results suggest that the FS cells are both a source of and a target for MIF and raise the possibility that MIF serves as a paracrine/autocrine factor in the pituitary gland that contributes to the protective neuroendocrine response to endotoxin.     

Regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion by the interactions of activin-A,dexamethasone and testosterone in anterior pituitary cell cultures of male rats

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of glucocorticoids and gonadal steroids on the expression of inhibin/activin subunits and follistatin of the anterior pituitary and test the hypothesis that resulting changes in the local activin/inhibin/follistatin tone contribute to steroid effects on follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) production from gonadotropes. In primary cell cultures of male rat anterior pituitaries, dexamethasone (DEX) or testosterone (T) stimulated FSH secretion and FSHbeta mRNA and their effects were additive with activin-A. Follistatin (FS288) and inhibin-A antagonized the rise in FSH secretion both in the absence and presence of exogenous activin-A. Despite the similarity in their action on FSH production, DEX and T had opposite effects on follistatin mRNA levels. Follistatin mRNA levels of cultured rat anterior pituitary cells were elevated upon the addition of DEX but attenuated by T. On the other hand, both DEX and T suppressed inhibin/activin betaB mRNA levels while only DEX affected betaA mRNA. In these cells, activin-A stimulated follistatin and inhibin/activin betaB mRNA levels but had no effect on betaA. Together, DEX and activin-A caused a further increase in follistatin mRNA levels while T attenuated the effect of activin-A alone. Both steroids attenuated the effect of activin-A on betaB mRNA accumulation. These results support the possibility that DEX and T, possibly acting on different subsets of anterior pituitary cells, use distinct mechanisms to modify the local activin/inhibin/follistatin circuitry and thereby upregulate FSH production from the anterior pituitary gonadotropes.     

己酮可可碱对肺结节病患者肺泡巨噬细胞释放细胞因子的作用

目的　研究己酮可可碱 (POF)对肺结节病患者肺泡巨噬细胞 (AM)产生细胞因子的作用 ,并与地塞米松 (DEX)的作用相比较。方法　收集 1 4例活动期肺结节病患者的AM ,以 1 0 %RPMI为培养液 (含有 1 0 %热灭活胎牛血清、2mmol/LL 谷氨酰胺、2 0 0kU/L青霉素及 2 0 0mg/L链霉素 ) ;或1 0 %RPMI加内毒素 (LPS ,1 0 0 μg/L) ;或分别加入浓度为 0 0 1mmol/L、0 1mmol/L和1mmol/L的POF ;或加入 0 1mmol/LDEX进行AM培养 2 4h。用酶联免疫吸附 (ELISA)法测定培养上清液中细胞因子含量。结果　POF对结节病患者AM自发释放的肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF α)有剂量依赖性抑制作用 (P <0 0 0 1 ) ,而对其他自发释放的细胞因子无影响。 0 1mmol/LDEX抑制自发释放的TNF α、可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体 (sTNFR 2 )、白细胞介素 (IL) 1 β和IL 1 0 (P <0 0 0 1或 <0 0 5 或 <0 0 1 )。除sTNFR 1外 ,POF亦抑制这些由LPS刺激的AM释放的细胞因子 (P <0 0 5或 <0 0 0 1 )。与POF相似 ,0 1mmol/LDEX同样抑制这些LPS刺激的细胞因子释放 (P <0 0 5或 <0 0 0 1 ) ,但对sTNFR 1和IL 1 β无影响。 结论　与DEX相比 ,POF有更宽的治疗窗。用在结节病治疗上可以减少皮质激素用量或可将其替代。然而POF治疗结节病及其他肺部疾病的临床价     

Anterior pituitary hormone control by interleukin 2.

Several monokines, proteins secreted by monocytes and macrophages, alter release of hormones from the anterior pituitary. We report here the ability of femtomolar concentrations of interleukin 2 (IL-2), a lymphokine released from T lymphocytes, to alter directly pituitary hormone release. The effects of concentrations of IL-2 ranging from 10(-17) to 10(-9) M on anterior pituitary hormone release were evaluated in vitro. Hemipituitaries were preincubated in 1 ml of Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (KRB) followed by incubation for 1 or 2 hr with KRB or KRB containing different concentrations of IL-2. This was followed by incubation for 30 min in 56 mM potassium medium to study the effect of pretreatment with IL-2 on subsequent depolarization-induced hormone release. Prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), corticotropin (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), and thyrotropic hormone (TSH) released into the incubation medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. IL-2 stimulated the basal release of PRL at 1 or 2 hr but suppressed the subsequent depolarization-induced PRL release, perhaps because the readily releasable pool of PRL was exhausted. The minimal effective dose (MED) was 10(-15) M. Conversely, IL-2 significantly suppressed the basal release of LH and FSH at 1 or 2 hr, with a MED of 10(-16) M, thus demonstrating a reciprocal action of the cytokine on lactotrophs and gonadotrophs. The subsequent depolarization-induced release of LH and FSH was suppressed, indicative of a persistent inhibitory action of IL-2. IL-2 stimulated ACTH and TSH release at 1 hr and the MEDs were 10(-12) and 10(-15) M, respectively. Conversely, IL-2 significantly lowered the basal release of GH at 1 hr, with a MED of 10(-15) M. The release of GH was not altered at 2 hr. The high potassium-induced release of ACTH, TSH, and GH was not affected. The results demonstrate that IL-2 at picomolar concentrations affects the release of anterior pituitary hormones. This cytokine may serve as an important messenger from lymphocytes exerting a direct paracrine action on the pituitary by its release from lymphocytes in the gland or concentrations in the blood that reach the gland may be sufficient to activate it.     

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, interleukin-6 and glucocorticoids regulate the release of vascular endothelial growth factor in pituitary folliculostellate cells

There is increasing evidence that hormones play an important role in the control of endothelial cell function and growth by regulating the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF regulates vascular permeability and represents the most powerful growth factor for endothelial cells. In the normal anterior pituitary, VEGF has been detected only in folliculostellate (FS) cells. In the present study, the regulation of the release of VEGF from FS-like mouse TtT/GF cells, and from FS cells of rat pituitary monolayer cell cultures was investigated using a specific VEGF ELISA. Basal release of VEGF was demonstrated in cultures of both TtT/GF cells and rat pituitary cells. Interestingly, the VEGF secretion was stimulated by both forms of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP-38 and PACAP-27), indicating that this hypothalamic peptide regulates endothelial cell function and growth within the pituitary. VEGF secretion was also stimulated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) whereas basal, IL-6- and PACAP-stimulated secretion was inhibited by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone. The inhibitory action of dexamethasone was reversed by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486, suggesting that in FS cells functional glucocorticoid receptors mediate the inhibitory action of glucocorticoids on the VEGF secretion. The endocrine and auto-/paracrine control of VEGF production in pituitary FS cells by PACAP, IL-6 and glucocorticoids may play an important role both in angiogenesis and vascular permeability regulation within the pituitary under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.     

The glucocorticoid hormone dexamethasone reverses the growth hormone-releasing properties of the cholinomimetic carbachol

We recently reported that dexamethasone (DEX) enhances acetylcholine (ACh) release from pituitary cell aggregates. In the present study, the effect of DEX on the GH-releasing properties of the cholinergic agonist carbachol (CCh) was investigated. Perifusion of hemipituitaries from 14-day-old rats with CCh stimulated basal GH release. CCh also increased basal GH release from organ-cultured pituitaries and from pituitary cells cultured as reaggregates, but only when the thyroid hormone T3 was supplemented to the culture medium. Pretreatment of the animals in vivo with DEX abolished the CCh-induced increase in basal GH release from hemipituitaries tested in vitro. Treatment of pituitary organ cultures and reaggregate cell cultures with DEX reversed the stimulation of basal GH release by CCh into an inhibition. CCh also inhibited isoproterenol- and GRF-stimulated GH release from DEX-treated pituitary cell reaggregates. In contrast, the responsiveness of tumoral GH3 cell aggregates to CCh was not dependent on T3 or DEX during culture. The half-maximal concentration of CCh for inhibition was significantly lower than that for stimulation (1 and 10 microM, respectively). Perifusion with CCh of DEX-treated cell reaggregates consisting of a highly enriched somatotroph population (greater than 90% GH immunoreactive cells), obtained by sequential velocity and buoyant density sedimentation of dispersed cells, also inhibited basal GH release. Pretreatment of pituitary cell reaggregates cultured in DEX-supplemented medium with pertussis toxin completely abolished the inhibition by CCh. The inhibition of GH release by CCh was not affected by the Na+ conductance blocker tetrodotoxin, the Cl- channel blocker picrotoxin, or the K+ channel blocker caesium, but was abolished by the Ca2+ channel blockers cadmium and verapamil. In conclusion, CCh is capable of both stimulating and inhibiting GH release in different pituitary in vitro assay systems; the inhibition is dependent on glucocorticoids and the stimulation on the thyroid hormone T3. The mechanism of action of the inhibition seems to involve a GTP-binding protein and most probably a decrease in calcium conductance in the somatotroph.