The influence of interleukin-2 on vasopressin and oxytocin gene expression in the rodent hypothalamus.

There is growing evidence of interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system. We present evidence that the cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) influences expression of the genes encoding the neuropeptides vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) in the hypothalamus of the nude mouse. A single injection of recombinant mouse IL-2 (rmIL-2) caused a significant increase in VP and OT mRNA levels in the hypothalamus of nude mice. This effect was specific to the nude mouse. These observations stress the potential value of the nude mouse for studying interactions between the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system.