Interleukin-2 stimulates the secretion of arginine vasopressin but not corticotropin-releasing hormone from rat hypothalamic cells in vitro.

Cytokines are involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, thus providing a means of communication between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. In this study IL-2 caused a dose-dependent stimulation of AVP secretion from both the intact rat hypothalamus in vitro and hypothalamic cell cultures. IL-2 did not increase the secretion of CRH in either preparation, nor did it prime the cells to respond to a subsequent dose of IL-2. Both preparations, however, were able to respond to known CRH secretagogues such as 5-HT and 56 mM K+. This may provide yet another line of communication between the immune and neuroendocrine systems.