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.     

Human recombinant interleukin-1 beta and -alpha, but not recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulate ACTH release from rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro in a prostaglandin E2 and cAMP independent manner

The pituitary-adrenal axis is known to be stimulated during the acute-phase response. As cytokines play a central role in mediating the constellation of host response occurring during the acute-phase response it was of interest to assess the ability of cytokines to stimulate ACTH secretion from normal pituitary cells in culture. We used human recombinant interleukin-1 beta and -alpha (hrIL1 beta, hrIL1 alpha) and human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (hrTNF alpha) to analyze the ability of these cytokines to induce ACTH secretion from normal rat anterior pituitary cells in culture. We also investigated the possible roles of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cAMP in the cellular transduction mechanism. After 3 days of incubation primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells were stimulated for 24 h with either hrIL1 beta, hrIL1 alpha or hrTNF alpha alone or with the addition of dexamethasone or indomethacin. The culture media were analyzed for ACTH, PGE2 and cAMP content. At doses ranging from 0.03 to 30 nM, hrIL1 beta stimulated the release of ACTH and PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, at doses ranging from 3 to 60 nM, hrTNF alpha was unable to stimulate ACTH secretion although it stimulated PGE2 synthesis. Time-course experiments demonstrated that hrIL1 beta (3 nM) stimulates ACTH production over a period of 8, 16 and 24 h, but not after a period of 4 h. In these experiments, hrIL1 beta failed to cause any change in the secretions of growth hormone and luteinizing hormone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Adrenocorticotropin increases interleukin-6 release from rat adrenal zona glomerulosa cells.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced by adrenal zona glomerulosa cells; its release is stimulated by several secretagogues, including IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and angiotensin II. The present study reports that ACTH (0.1-100 nM) increased the release of IL-6 from primary cultures of rat adrenal cells in a concentration-dependent manner. This increase was accompanied by an increase in cAMP content in cell extracts and in the incubation medium. The dynamics of IL-6 release from the adrenal cells also were investigated using a perifusion system; approximately 50 min were required for the effects of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and ACTH on IL-6 release to become apparent. Following withdrawal of the secretagogues, IL-6 release returned to basal levels within 90-120 min. In some experiments, the adrenal zona glomerulosa was separated from the zona fasciculata/reticularis to determine the origin of secretagogue-stimulated IL-6 release. PGE2 and forskolin increased IL-6 release from both cell types, but maximal release from zona glomerulosa cells was more than 10-fold greater than that from zona fasciculata/reticularis cells. ACTH (0.1-100 nM) increased intracellular cAMP levels in cells from both cell types in a concentration-dependent manner, but increased IL-6 release only from zona glomerulosa cells. Dexamethasone, an inhibitor of IL-6 production in several tissues, had no effect on either basal or stimulated IL-6 production in the adrenal. Because IL-1 beta is produced primarily by tissues of the immune system, whereas ACTH is a classical endocrine hormone, we investigated the effect of interaction of these proteins on IL-6 release from the adrenal. Together, IL-1 beta and ACTH stimulation of IL-6 release was greater than the sum of the effects of each substance separately; however, IL-1 beta did not potentiate the effect of ACTH on cAMP levels. Similarly, IL-1 beta potentiated IL-6 release stimulated by forskolin and (Bu)2cAMP. Thus, the adrenal may be an important convergence point between the immune and endocrine systems, and because IL-6 release is regulated by IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, ACTH, and angiotensin II, and this cytokine stimulates corticosterone release, IL-6 may play an important paracrine role in integrating the signals derived from these systems.     

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.     

Effects of interleukin-1 on hormone release from normal rat pituitary cells in primary culture

The present study was performed mainly to determine whether interleukin-1 (IL-1), a polypeptide produced by immunologically activated monocytes, plays a physiological role in the regulation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) using primary monolayer cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells. Neither human IL-1 alpha nor IL-1 beta stimulated the ACTH release from normal pituitary cells in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 nM. IL-1 beta caused a slight, but significant, increase in ACTH release at a concentration of 100 nM, while IL-1 alpha did not, even at the highest dose tested. IL-1 beta exhibited a synergistic action with corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in ACTH secretion at 10 and 100 nM of CRF, but the interaction was not striking. Both of the monokines failed to cause any change in the secretions of growth hormone, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone throughout concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100 nM. The effects of possible sex-related differences and prolonged preincubation of cultured pituitary cells in serum-free medium prior to assay incubation were also tested, providing no significantly different findings. These results suggest that the physiological significance of IL-1 as a tissue CRF is indeed questionable and should be further clarified.     

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)     

Somatostatin inhibits basal and vasoactive intestinal peptide-stimulated hormone release by different mechanisms in GH pituitary cells

Somatostatin (SRIF) inhibits both basal and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated hormone secretion by the GH4C1 clonal strain of rat pituitary tumor cells. We have previously shown that SRIF inhibits cAMP accumulation stimulated by VIP but does not alter basal cAMP levels in this cell line. To determine the importance of changes in cAMP accumulation in the mechanism of SRIF action, we have compared the effect of SRIF on hormone release stimulated by VIP and two other secretagogues which increase effective intracellular cAMP concentrations: forskolin and 8-Bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP). VIP stimulated GH and PRL secretion to the same maximal extent (220% of control) with similar ED50 values (0.37 +/- 0.03 and 0.43 +/- 0.08 nM, mean +/- SE, respectively). SRIF (100 nM) reduced maximal VIP-stimulation of both GH and PRL release from 220 to 140% of control; however, it did not significantly change the ED50 values for VIP. The effect of SRIF on VIP-stimulated hormone release parallels its action on VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Furthermore, the concentrations of SRIF required to produce half-maximal inhibition of VIP-stimulated GH and PRL release (0.8 +/- 0.2 nM and 0.7 +/- 0.1 nM, respectively) were similar to its potency to inhibit VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation (1.2 +/- 0.1 nM). These data indicate that changes in cAMP levels mediate inhibition of VIP-stimulated hormone secretion by SRIF. Forskolin increased cAMP accumulation with an ED50 value of 2.4 +/- 0.5 microM. A maximal concentration of forskolin (100 microM) stimulated cAMP accumulation to a greater extent than 100 nM VIP (34 +/- 4-fold vs. 9 +/- 1-fold). Together, forskolin (100 microM) and VIP (100 nM) stimulated cAMP accumulation by more than 50-fold. However, PRL secretion in response to maximal concentrations of VIP or forskolin individually or together were the same (approximately 200% of control). These results support the conclusion that both compounds stimulate PRL secretion by a cAMP-mediated mechanism which can be fully activated by either one alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Two squamous cell carcinomas not associated with humoral hypercalcemia produce a potent bone resorption-stimulating factor which is interleukin-1 alpha

Conditioned medium (CM) from two squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, SCC-9 and SCC-13, stimulated bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvariae in organ culture. Enhanced bone resorption induced by CM was associated with an increased production of prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) by the calvariae. Complete inhibition of stimulated PGE2 synthesis by indomethacin only partially inhibited bone resorption-stimulating activity (BRSA) in the CM. Neither SCC-9 nor SCC-13 CM stimulated cAMP production in rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8). The BRSA in CM was completely inhibited by an antibody to interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). Fractionation of SCC-9 CM by gel filtration and HPLC ion exchange chromatography revealed a single peak of BRSA and PGE2 synthesis-stimulating activity at 17-20K (termed SCMII). In mouse calvariae, SCMII increased medium Ca2+ and PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations from 20 ng protein/ml to a maximum of 500 ng protein/ml. Preincubation of SCMII with antibody to IL-1 alpha completely inhibited SCMII-induced bone resorption. SCMII also enhanced thymocyte proliferation with activity that was equivalent to 353 U/ml IL-1. Antibodies to IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor had no effect on SCMII-induced bone resorption. Using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha was measured in high concentrations in both crude and partially purified fractions of SCC-9 and SCC-13 CM. In contrast, IL-1 beta was either undetectable or present in amounts below those that stimulate bone resorption. In addition, SCMII did not enhance cAMP production in bone cells. We conclude that the BRSA produced by the two squamous cell carcinoma cell lines SCC-9 and SCC-13 is IL-1 alpha.     

Prostaglandin-dependent in vitro stimulation of adrenocortical steroidogenesis by interleukins.

The effects of interleukins on adrenal steroidogenesis and their mode of action were studied using cultured rat adrenal cells. The addition of rat interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) or rat IL-2 increased corticosterone levels in the medium in a concentration-dependent manner during 24 h of incubation. The minimum, half-maximum, and maximum effective concentrations of both rat IL-1 alpha and rat IL-2 were almost same (approximately 3, 10, and 100 U/ml, respectively). After a latent period, the effect became apparent after 12 h of incubation. Human IL-1 beta and human IL-6 also showed a stimulatory effect on corticosterone production, whereas human IL-2 was inactive in this system. To clarify the cellular mechanism of these stimulatory effects, we measured the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cAMP in the cells and media as well as the corticosterone levels. Corticosterone production stimulated by IL-1 alpha or IL-2 was accompanied by intracellular and extracellular cAMP and PGE2 accumulation. Although the stimulation of both cAMP and corticosterone was observed only after 12 h of incubation, PGE2 levels increased during the first 4 h of incubation. Corticosterone, cAMP, and PGE2 production stimulated by ILs was almost completely blocked by the addition of 0.1 mM aspirin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Lipoxygenase inhibitors, i.e. AA-861, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetrynoic acid, did not abolish corticosterone production stimulated by ILs. Submaximal doses of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 synergistically stimulated PGE2 production, but did not have even additional effects on cAMP and corticosterone levels. On the other hand, submaximal doses of ACTH, which did not significantly affect PGE2 levels, acted synergistically with IL to increase cAMP and corticosterone levels in these cells. These results indicate that 1) IL-1 alpha and IL-2 directly stimulate glucocorticoid synthesis in a dose- and time-dependent manner; 2) a half-maximum effective concentration of ACTH acts synergistically with IL in stimulating glucocorticoidogenesis; 3) the stimulatory process initially requires PGs, followed by the activation of the adenylate cyclase system; 4) although the profiles of steroidogenic action of IL-1 alpha and IL-2 are quite similar, they may exert their effects through different mechanisms in their early steps of PGE2 production; and 5) the low effective concentrations of both cytokines suggest possible physiological or pathophysiological roles of circulating cytokines in the glucocorticoidogenesis under certain conditions.     

Regulation of release of somatotropin from in vitro cultures of bovine and porcine pituitary cells

Bovine and human GH releasing factors (GHRF), in concentrations ranging from 10 pM to 10 nM, stimulated GH release from cultured bovine and porcine anterior pituitary cells. Agents that increase intracellular cAMP levels (e.g. isobutylmethylxanthine and 8-bromo-cAMP) also stimulated bovine and porcine GH release. Somatostatin, in doses ranging from 1-100 nM, inhibited both basal and GHRF-stimulated GH release from the bovine pituitary cultures, and 100 nM somatostatin inhibited GHRF-stimulated release of porcine GH. Addition of exogenous bovine GH suppressed basal, but not GHRF-stimulated, release of bovine GH. Human insulin-like growth factor I did not suppress basal or GHRF-stimulated release of bovine GH from bovine pituitary cells, although it has been confirmed in this report that insulin-like growth factor I suppresses stimulated release of GH from rat cells. Furthermore, the GH release peptides described by Momany et al. stimulated little or no GH release from bovine or porcine pituitary cell cultures, in contrast to their activity in rat cells. The results show that whereas some regulatory features of GH release from bovine, porcine, and rat pituitary cell cultures are similar, others differ significantly.     

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.     

Absence of prostacyclin involvement in angiotensin-induced aldosterone secretion in rat adrenal cells

The role of prostaglandins (PGs) in aldosterone secretion was studied in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. [14C]Arachidonic acid was metabolized to [14C]6-keto-PGF1 alpha, [14C]PGF2 alpha, [14C]PGE2, and [14C]PGD2. Pretreatment with indomethacin (5 X 10(-5) M) or U-51605 (5 micrograms/ml) inhibited the synthesis of these metabolites. Angiotensin II (AII) stimulated a concentration-related release of aldosterone and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, but not PGE2. Significant increases in aldosterone and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha occurred at AII concentrations of 0.2 and 2 nM. The increases in 6-keto PGF1 alpha concentrations after AII treatment were small, however (278 +/- 33 pg/10(6) cells X h for control vs. 581 +/- 90 after 2 nM AII). At higher concentrations, AII further stimulated aldosterone, but 6-keto PGF1 alpha levels declined. AII stimulated the synthesis of aldosterone and 6-keto PGF1 alpha in parallel with time of incubation. Indomethacin (3 microM) decrease basal and AII-stimulated aldosterone release by 40% and 23%, respectively, and inhibited the synthesis of PGs. U-51605 (5 micrograms/ml) failed to alter aldosterone release. Arachidonic acid increased the synthesis of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in a concentration-related manner without altering the synthesis of aldosterone. In contrast, PGH2 stimulated the release of PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and aldosterone. PGI2 and PGE2 stimulated aldosterone secretion, which was concentration related. Threshold stimulation by PGI2 and PGE2 occurred at 0.5 and 5 nM, respectively. Maximal stimulation occurred at 5 nM for PGI2 and at 5000 nM for PGE2, with PGE2 producing the greater maximal response. Treatment of the cells with trypsin eliminated the steroidogenic response to PGE2. These findings indicate that PGI2 and PGE2 are produced by the adrenal glomerulosa cells, and the synthesis of PGI2 may be stimulated by AII. However, the concentrations of PGI2 synthesized are not adequate to stimulate aldosterone secretion. Thus, PGI2 does not appear to mediate angiotensin-induced aldosterone secretion.     

Fluoxetine and amitriptyline inhibit nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and hyaluronic acid production in human synovial cells and synovial tissue cultures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of fluoxetine and amitriptyline on nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and hyaluronic acid (HA) production in human synovial cells and synovial tissue cultures. METHODS: Human synovial cells, synovial tissue, and cartilage were cultured in the presence or absence of cytokines, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), fluoxetine, or amitriptyline. Production of NO, PGE2, and HA was determined in culture media. Sulfated glycosaminoglycan (S-GAG) synthesis was evaluated in cartilage by 35S incorporation. RESULTS: Fluoxetine (0.3 microg/ml, 1 microg/ml, and 3 microg/ml) inhibited NO release by 56%, 62%, and 71%, respectively, in the media of synovial cells stimulated by interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha; 1 ng/ml) plus tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha; 30 ng/ml). Amitriptyline (0.3 microg/ml, 1 microg/ml, and 3 microg/ml) caused a 16%, 27.3%, and 51.4% inhibition of NO release. Fluoxetine and amitriptyline (0.3 microg/ml, 1 microg/ml, and 3 microg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) inhibited PGE2 release in the media of human synovial cells in the presence of IL-1alpha plus TNFalpha, in a dose-dependent manner (up to 88% inhibition). Fluoxetine (0.3 microg/ml, 1 microg/ml, and 3 microg/ml) and amitriptyline (1 microg/ml and 3 microg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) inhibited PGE2 release in the media of human synovial tissue in the presence of LPS. Fluoxetine and amitriptyline (0.3 microg/ml, 1 microg/ml, and 3 microg/ml) also significantly (P<0.05) inhibited HA production by human synovial cells in the presence of IL-1beta plus TNFalpha. Fluoxetine and amitriptyline (1 microg/ml) partially reversed IL-1beta-induced inhibition of 35S-GAG synthesis by human cartilage cultures (P<0.05). Neither fluoxetine nor amitriptyline had a toxic effect on cells in the concentrations used. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of NO and PGE2 production by connective tissue cells is a mechanism by which some antidepressant medications may affect pain, articular inflammation, and joint damage.     

Effects of protein kinase-C-related adrenocorticotropin secretagogues and interleukin-1 on proopiomelanocortin gene expression in rat anterior pituitary cells

To examine the effects of the cAMP-independent protein kinase-C system and interleukin-1 (IL-1) on secretion of ACTH and POMC gene expression in cultured rat anterior pituitary (AP) cells, AP cells were incubated with CRF, 8-bromo-cAMP, arginine vasopressin, angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. After 15 h of incubation, CRF and 8-bromo-cAMP increased both ACTH release and the POMC mRNA level. Arginine vasopressin, angiotensin II, norepinephrine, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated ACTH release but failed to increase basal or CRF-stimulated POMC mRNA levels. Human recombinant IL-1 alpha and -beta increased neither ACTH release nor POMC mRNA levels after 3 h of incubation. After 15 h of incubation, 100 pM to 10 nM IL-1 alpha and -beta increased ACTH release. However, POMC mRNA levels were significantly elevated only by 10 pM IL-1 beta. These results suggest that the CRF-cAMP system plays a major role in both ACTH release and expression of the POMC gene in AP cells, but the cAMP-independent protein kinase-C system contributes only to ACTH release; that acute stimulation of ACTH release from AP with IL-1 administration is not due to direct action of IL-1 at the pituitary level; that chronic exposure of AP cells to IL-1 alpha or -beta can stimulate ACTH release; and that the direct effects of IL-1 alpha and -beta on POMC gene expression, if any, seem to be minimal.     

Rapid glucocorticoid inhibition of vasoactive intestinal peptide-induced cyclic AMP accumulation and prolactin release in rat pituitary cells in culture.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulates both adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation and prolactin release in normal rat pituitary cells in culture. cAMP accumulation is significant (P less than 0.01) at VIP concentrations as low as 1 nM and reaches a maximum with 0.1 microM. Addition of dexamethasone as early as 15 min before VIP inhibits VIP stimulation of both cAMP production and PRL secretion. The rapid inhibition is dose-dependent: it appears at doses as low as 0.01 pM and is complete at 1 pM dexamethasone. Increasing concentrations of dexamethasone induce a noncompetitive type of inhibition, as shown by the decrease in Vmax with no change in the apparent Km for VIP. Cycloheximide (1 mM) counteracts the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on VIP-induced cAMP production, which suggests the involvement of a rapid protein synthesis mechanism. Ru-26988, a specific glucocorticoid devoid of any mineralocorticoid activity and which does not bind to intracellular transcortin-like component, also produces an inhibition of VIP-induced cAMP accumulation. Corticosterone also inhibits VIP-induced cAMP production but at concentrations higher than those of dexamethasone. In contrast, aldosterone, progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone have no effect. These results demonstrate that, in normal rat pituitary cells in culture, glucocorticoids at physiological concentrations rapidly inhibit the cAMP production and prolactin release induced by VIP by acting through specific glucocorticoid receptors.     

Release of interleukin-6 by human thyroid epithelial cells immortalized by simian virus 40 DNA transfection.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has actions on a variety of endocrine tissues. The cytokine is secreted by cells of the anterior pituitary and endocrine pancreas and has recently been shown to be produced by cultures of thyroid epithelial cells. In this study we have examined some of the factors which regulate IL-6 release from an immortalized human thyroid line (HTori3). IL-6 release over 24 h was stimulated by TSH (5000 microU/ml), by forskolin (0.01 mmol/l), by fetal calf serum (1-20%) and by epidermal growth factor (20 ng/ml). Stimulation was also apparent with gamma-interferon and with tumour necrosis factor at concentrations known to enhance class II major histocompatibility antigen expression by thyroid epithelium. The most potent factor tested was interleukin-1 (IL-1), which controls IL-6 release from other cell types. Threefold stimulation was found with 1 U/ml rising to 350-fold with 1000 U/ml. The effect of IL-1 took 2 h to develop and was blocked by cycloheximide (100 mumol/l). Stimulation was not markedly inhibited by pertussis toxin. Many of the actions of IL-1 are mediated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). At concentrations as low as 30 nmol/l, PGE2 stimulated IL-6 release but the maximum stimulation obtained with PGE2 was only threefold. The effect of IL-1 was not inhibited by indomethacin. These data provide further evidence that IL-6 is produced by human thyrocytes. The effect of IL-1 has not been demonstrated previously. Stimulation of IL-6 release by IL-1 did not appear to be mediated by prostaglandin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Calcium ionophore but not phorbol ester promotes eicosanoids release by proliferating interleukin-3-dependent bone marrow cells

Eicosanoid release during multilineage hematopoiesis was assessed using freshly isolated mouse bone marrow cells cultured in the presence of interleukin-3 (IL-3) (10% WEHI-3 culture-conditioned medium). Cells that could release prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) when stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187, but not with phorbol ester (PMA), appeared within 4 days. The cells harvested on day 10 released 42 ng of PGE2/10(6) cells/mL after A23187 stimulation. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) (4 ng/mL) was also detected after A23187 stimulation, but there was no detectable LTC4 (less than 0.5 ng/mL). Nonadherent bone marrow cells were isolated from 28-day cultures and cloned. All clones were strongly IL-3-dependent. Although other growth factors such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), and CSF-1 failed to promote survival or support proliferation of the cells, three clones (11-1-A6, 3-2-D5, and 11-1-A1) showed significant increases in 3H-thymidine incorporation, respectively, after PMA treatment for 24 hours. Surviving cells displayed dominantly myeloid type morphology and phenotypic characteristics. The data suggest that IL-3 is important in the formation of PGE2-producing cells. In contrast to many macrophages (MO), neither the IL-3-dependent cell lines nor the IL-3-cultured bone marrow cells released significant amounts of PGE2 when stimulated with PMA or IL-3, although PMA and IL-3 both induced translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) to the membrane fraction. The lack of production of PGE2 and other eicosanoids by the PMA- and IL-3-stimulated cell lines was confirmed by measuring the release of 3H-arachidonic acid. The data suggest that in IL-3-dependent bone marrow cell lines the activation of eicosanoid metabolism requires elevated cellular Ca2+; PKC activation alone does not appear to be a sufficient stimulus.