Vitale Giovanni, Caraglia Michele, van Koetsveld Peter M, Maroni Paola, Marra Monica, Colao Annamaria, Lamberts Steven W J, Cavagnini Francesco, Hofland Leo J
Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2009 Jun;10(2):125-33. doi: 10.1007/s11154-008-9083-3. Epub 2008 Jul 6.
Cytokines, particularly those endowed with pro-inflammatory properties, are known to influence the release of anterior pituitary hormones by a direct and indirect action at the level of pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Type I interferons (IFNs) represent a group of cytokines that act through a common receptor composed by two chains (IFNAR-1 and IFNAR-2). Several in vitro and in vivo studies underline the fact that type I IFNs are involved in the regulation of the immune-endocrine circuitry. Treatment with type I IFNs of patients affected by chronic viral hepatitis, multiple sclerosis and tumors influences the secretion of pituitary hormones. This article reviews the current knowledge about the effects of IFN-alpha and IFN-beta on hypothalamic-pituitary function and describes the potential role of type I IFNs in the treatment of pituitary adenomas.
细胞因子，尤其是那些具有促炎特性的细胞因子，已知可通过在垂体和下丘脑水平的直接和间接作用来影响垂体前叶激素的释放。I型干扰素（IFN）是一类通过由两条链（IFNAR-1和IFNAR-2）组成的共同受体发挥作用的细胞因子。多项体外和体内研究强调了I型干扰素参与免疫-内分泌回路调节这一事实。对慢性病毒性肝炎、多发性硬化症和肿瘤患者使用I型干扰素进行治疗会影响垂体激素的分泌。本文综述了关于IFN-α和IFN-β对下丘脑-垂体功能影响的现有知识，并描述了I型干扰素在垂体腺瘤治疗中的潜在作用。
