Role of interleukin-6 in the neuroendocrine system.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine exerting many immunological and non immunological actions. The cytokine binds to a specific receptor, whose activation induces the association with a novel transducer, the glycoprotein gp 130. Here we present our results about the effect of IL-6 on both hormone secretion and second messenger systems at pituitary level, and the production of IL-6 from cells of central nervous system. IL-6 inhibited basal, VIP and TRH-stimulated prolactin (PRL) secretion from single lactotropes, studied by means of reverse hemolytic plaque assay, whereas in primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells, according to the literature, the cytokine stimulated prolactin secretion. IL-6 did not affect basal adenylate cyclase activity, inositol phosphate production, and cytosolic calcium concentration. Conversely, the preincubation of pituitary cells with interleukin-6 for 20 min significantly reduced VIP- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, as well as inositol phosphate production and free cytosolic calcium increase induced by TRH.