Sekiyama A, Ueda H, Kashiwamura SI, Nishida K, Yamaguchi S, Sasaki H, Kuwano Y, Kawai K, Teshima-Kondo S, Rokutan K, Okamura H. A role of the adrenal gland in stress-induced up-regulation of cytokines in plasma.
J Neuroimmunol 2005;
171:38-44. [PMID:
16253346 DOI:
10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.09.010]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2005] [Accepted: 09/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
To reveal a pathway by which psychological/physical stresses influence host defense capability, responses to immobilization stress in mice were investigated, focusing on a multifunctional cytokine, interleukin-18 (IL-18). Immobilization stress induced interleukin-18 accumulation in plasma and in the adrenal gland. Inhibition on ACTH resulted in suppressed levels of IL-18 both in plasma and the adrenal gland. In hemi-adrenalectomized mice, plasma IL-18 levels after stress were lower than in sham-operated mice. This, together with the observation in stressed hemi-adrenalectomized mice that IL-6 levels in plasma were suppressed but up-regulated by recombinant IL-18, showed that the adrenal gland plays a crucial role in stress-related elevation of IL-6 in plasma via IL-18. Adrenal gland is highlighted as an organ connecting the psychological, endocrine, and immune systems. Controlling the secretion of IL-18 from the adrenal gland may serve as a possible preventative means against a stress-related disruption of host defenses.
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