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Interleukin-6 stimulates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in man.
Abstract
A recent study in humans, animal studies, and in vitro data have suggested that interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulates the secretory activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. In a phase II study, one female and six male patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma received IL-6 to evaluate a possible antitumor effect of IL-6. This offered the possibility of investigating the influence of IL-6 on the HPA axis in man. The subjects were studied 1 day before, on day 1, and on day 21 of IL-6 therapy (150 micrograms administered sc every day at 0900 h). Blood samples were taken at 0900, 1100, 1300, 1600, and 2000 h the day before, on day 1 of IL-6 therapy, 24 h after the first IL-6 injection, and on day 21 of IL-6 treatment. Plasma ACTH and cortisol levels promptly followed the rise of IL-6, which peaked 4 h after administration. They were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 1100 and 1300 h on day 1 of IL-6 therapy compared with the corresponding plasma levels the day before IL-6 treatment. Cortisol concentrations remained significantly increased at 1600 and 2000 h after IL-6 administration. Twenty-four hours after the first IL-6 administration, IL-6, ACTH, and cortisol levels had reached preinjection values. Although plasma cortisol levels were similar on days 1 and 21, ACTH levels were lower on day 21 (than on day 1), but significantly elevated at 1100 h compared with levels on the day before the first IL-6 injection. Results confirming the very recent data of another study demonstrate a stimulating effect of IL-6 on the HPA axis in man. They support the notion that IL-6 is one of the cytokines involved in the interaction between the immune system and the HPA axis.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Späth-Schwalbe, E., Born, J., Schrezenmeier, H., Bornstein, S. R., Stromeyer, P., Drechsler, S., Fehm, H. L., & Porzsolt, F.
- Affiliations
- Universität Ulm (DE)
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 1994-10
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1212-1214
- ISSN
- 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7197
- OpenAlex
- W2005611582
- Cited by
- 145
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Site cant be reached (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
- Keywords
- interleukin-6, ACTH, cortisol, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, cytokine therapy
- MeSH terms
- Adrenal Cortex, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Male, Middle Aged, Osmolar Concentration, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Recombinant Proteins, Interleukin-6
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