Six different cytokines that share GP130 as a receptor subunit, induce serum amyloid A and potentiate the induction of interleukin-6 and the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis by interleukin-1.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) potentiate the elevation of serum corticosterone induced by suboptimal doses of interleukin-1 (IL-1). CNTF also potentiates IL-1-induced serum IL-6. Here, we report that four other cytokines (leukemia inhibitory factor [LIF], oncostatin M [OSM], interleukin-11 and cardiotrophin-1) also potentiated the elevation of serum corticosterone and IL-6 levels induced by IL-1. Furthermore, all the six cytokines studied induced the acute-phase protein serum amyloid A when administered alone. Because these cytokines differ both in structure and in function, but share gp130 as a subunit of their receptors, these results indicate that signaling through gp130 mediates potentiation of IL-1 activities. The potentiation of IL-1-induced serum corticosterone levels is not a consequence of the increased serum IL-6 observed after IL-1 administration. In fact, in IL-6 deficient mice, IL-1 increased serum corticosterone to a level comparable to that observed in wild-type mice. Thus, either endogenous IL-6 does not mediate IL-1-induced corticosterone increase, or its role may be fulfilled by other cytokines. To the extent that gp130-dependent cytokines may serve this role, they may be important feedback regulators of inflammation through the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and the potentiation of acute-phase protein synthesis.