Endocrinology, Vol 126, 2919-2926, Copyright © 1990 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Interferon-gamma inhibits stimulated adrenocorticotropin, prolactin, and growth hormone secretion in normal rat anterior pituitary cell cultures

H Vankelecom, P Carmeliet, H Heremans, J Van Damme, R Dijkmans, A Billiau and C Denef
Laboratory of Immunobiology, University of Leuven School of Medicine, Belgium.

Preincubation of rat anterior pituitary (AP) cells with homologous interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of ACTH secretion stimulated by CRF. The effect was seen in both monolayer and aggregate AP cell cultures and was not due to cytotoxicity. In monolayer cultures IFN-gamma also inhibited PRL and GH release stimulated by various hypothalamic releasing factors. IFN-gamma did not affect the time kinetics of the ACTH response to CRF. The dose needed for half-maximal inhibition amounted to approximately 1 (antiviral) U/ml. The effect of IFN-gamma was abrogated by an IFN-gamma- neutralizing monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, ACTH secretion by the AP cells was not affected by the anti-IFN-gamma antibody added alone, indicating that in the culture system no endogenous IFN-gamma is operational in regulating the ACTH response studied. Of the other cytokines tested [interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-alpha/beta (IFN- alpha/beta)] only TNF-alpha and IL-6 were found to inhibit CRF- stimulated ACTH release, although this inhibition was less pronounced than that caused by IFN-gamma. Lipopolysaccharide, even at high doses, did not significantly inhibit the ACTH response to CRF. These results identify IFN-gamma as one of the inflammatory cytokines that, like IL- 1, TNF-alpha, and IL-6, have the potential to regulate pituitary function.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Pals, M. Boussemaere, E. Swinnen, H. Vankelecom, and C. Denef A Pituitary Cell Type Coexpressing Messenger Ribonucleic Acid of Proopiomelanocortin and the Glycoprotein Hormone {alpha}-Subunit in Neonatal Rat and Chicken: Rapid Decline with Age and Reappearance in Vitro under Regulatory Pressure of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in the Rat Endocrinology, October 1, 2006; 147(10): 4738 - 4752. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Allaerts and H. Vankelecom History and perspectives of pituitary folliculo-stellate cell research Eur. J. Endocrinol., July 1, 2005; 153(1): 1 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. J. Hofland, W. W. de Herder, M. Waaijers, J. Zuijderwijk, P. Uitterlinden, P. M. van Koetsveld, and S. W. J. Lamberts Interferon-{alpha}-2a Is a Potent Inhibitor of Hormone Secretion by Cultured Human Pituitary Adenomas J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1999; 84(9): 3336 - 3343. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. de Metz, F. Sprangers, E. Endert, M. T. Ackermans, I. J. M. ten Berge, H. P. Sauerwein, and J. A. Romijn Interferon-gamma has immunomodulatory effects with minor endocrine and metabolic effects in humans J Appl Physiol, February 1, 1999; 86(2): 517 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Katahira, Y. Iwasaki, Y. Aoki, Y. Oiso, and H. Saito Cytokine Regulation of the Rat Proopiomelanocortin Gene Expression in AtT-20 Cells Endocrinology, May 1, 1998; 139(5): 2414 - 2422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Vankelecom, P. Matthys, and C. Denef Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Anterior Pituitary Gland: Induction by Interferon-{gamma} in a Subpopulation of Folliculostellate Cells and in an Unidentifiable Population of Non-hormone-secreting Cells J. Histochem. Cytochem., June 1, 1997; 45(6): 847 - 858. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Liao, M. Rudling, and B. Angelin Contrasting Effects of Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I on the Biological Activities of Endotoxin in the Rat Endocrinology, January 1, 1997; 138(1): 289 - 295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P. Chrousos The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Immune-Mediated Inflammation N. Engl. J. Med., May 18, 1995; 332(20): 1351 - 1363. [Full Text] [PDF]