RESUMEN
Antigenic challenge leads to a transient increase of serum glucocorticoids, a phenomenon that has been implicated in regulation of the magnitude of the immune response. In the present study, we determined the effects of immunization with three different doses of the T-dependent antigen, sheep red blood cells (SRBC), on glucocorticoid levels, IL-1 production by splenic macrophages, and number of splenic antibody-forming cells in mice. Immunization with three doses of antigen caused a dose-dependent increase in serum glucocorticoid after 2-4 h. No effect of immunization on serum corticosteroid-binding globulin levels was found, suggesting that the concentration of free, hormonally active corticosterone was increased. Antigenic challenge resulted in a significant rise of IL-1 production in a dose-related manner 2 h after immunization, except for the group given the highest dose of SRBC, which demonstrated strong elevation of serum corticosterone level by this time. However, IL-1 production by splenic macrophages, isolated at the peak of the hormonal reaction to SRBC (4 h after immunization), was suppressed in a dose-dependent fashion. An inverse relationship between endogenous levels of glucocorticoids and splenic plaque-forming cells number was also revealed. It is concluded that the interaction of IL-1 and glucocorticoids during the first hours after antigenic challenge is one of the factors controlling the magnitude of the immune response.
Asunto(s)
Formación de Anticuerpos/inmunología , Antígenos/inmunología , Corticosterona/inmunología , Glucocorticoides/inmunología , Interleucina-1/inmunología , Animales , Corticosterona/sangre , Eritrocitos/inmunología , Inmunización , Macrófagos/inmunología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos CBA , Bazo/inmunologíaRESUMEN
The effect of interleukin 1, the product of macrophage secretion, on mouse (CBA x C57Bl)F1 adrenal gland function has been studied in this paper. The maximal response of adrenal glands to intravenous interleukin 1 injection was observed after 2 h. The stimulation of adrenal gland hormonal function was dose-dependent as shown by i.v. injection of different dilutions of macrophage culture supernatants containing interleukin 1. The effect of interleukin 1 on functional adrenal gland activity was shown to be mediated by prostaglandin synthesis in an experiment in which prostaglandin synthesis was inhibited by indomethacin (0.25 mg/mouse). The hormonal adrenal gland response to interleukin 1 injection may well be part of a mechanism of negative feedback between interleukin 1 production and glucocorticoid level in blood plasma.