Regulation of the Immune System by Hypothalamic Releasing Hormones.

摘要

It has been known for many years that stressful situations can be a contributing factor in the development of a variety of bacterial, viral and neoplastic diseases. Specifically, decreased immuno-competence seems to account for the increased susceptibility of stressed hosts for these disease states. We have suggested that one mechanism by which this can occur is through the action of neuroendocrine hormones. It appears that the immune and neuroendocrine systems communicate in a bidirectional regulatory circuit by virtue of common signal molecules and receptors. In this report we discuss findings of the nucleotide and amino acid sequence of lymphocyte-derived corticotropin (ACTH). Also presented are results that the hypothalamic releasing hormone for luteinizing hormone (LH) induces lymphocytes to synthesize a bioactive LH. Finally, we discuss our data that the ACTH receptor on the lymphocytes can inhibit mitogenesis and induces adherent leukocytes to produce TNF-alpha. Keywords: Hypothalamic releasing hormones, Stress, Immune system, ACTH, Endorphins, Corticosteroids, Monokines, Neuroimmunomodulation. (SDW)