PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Besedovsky

Publications and source records attributed to H Besedovsky.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

On the mechanism of antiinflammation induced by tumor transplantation, surgery, and irritant injection.

Tumor transplantation, major surgery, and injection of nonspecific irritants elicit inflammation locally while suppressing inflammation induced subsequently and at distant sites. Such systemic antiinflammation in rodents occurs via corticosterone-independent and -dependent pathways. Based upon hormone measurements and the response to adrenalectomy, antiinflammation induced by irritants and certain surgical procedures is corticosterone independent while that which follows tumor transplantation is corticosterone dependent. However, injection of tumorous ascites stimulates both pathways since it contains two antiinflammatory factors: Factor A (molecular weight less than 2,000) does not alter hormone balance while Factor B (molecular weight 30,000-100,000) increases corticosterone levels and is corticosterone dependent. Desensitization of systemic antiinflammation develops rapidly regardless of whether it is corticosterone dependent (Factor B) or independent (Factor A or irritants). However, tumor transplantation resists desensitization possibly by inducing an immune response since lymphocytic mitogens prevent development of and break established desensitization. Nevertheless, abolition of tumor-induced antiinflammation follows injection of tumorous ascites by a mechanism that involves Factor B suppression of the corticosterone response to the tumor while Factor A apparently raises the threshold at which physiological increases in corticosterone inhibit leukocyte emigration. We conclude that systemic antiinflammation is a general consequence of a localized inflammatory reaction and that desensitization of such antiinflammation develops rapidly. Recent evidence indicates that certain mediators of inflammation are proinflammatory when administered intradermally but antiinflammatory when given intravenously. Thus, systemic antiinflammation may arise when chemical mediators of inflammation generated by a local reaction gain access to the circulation.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1989

Antidiabetic effects of interleukin 1.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1), a cytokine released mainly by activated macrophages-monocytes, affects glucose homeostasis and may mediate some of the metabolic derangements observed during certain inflammatory and infectious processes. In this report, it is shown that IL-1 acts as a hypoglycemic agent not only in normal animals but also in mice at early stages of alloxan-induced diabetes and in genetically diabetic, insulin-resistant C57BL/Ks db/db mice and C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. In these animal models, a single injection of a low dose of human recombinant IL-1 normalized glucose blood levels for several hours. This effect was not mediated by possible insulin secretagogue actions of the cytokine. Furthermore, IL-1 markedly reduced the levels of triglycerides in blood of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice at later stages of the disease. Although the final mechanism of action is at present unknown, the results showed that IL-1 is a hormone with powerful antidiabetic properties. Defective production of this cytokine associated with diabetes could contribute to aggravate the course of the disease during infectious and inflammatory processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Host endocrine responses during tumor growth.

Transplantation of the EL-4 lymphoma to syngeneic recipients caused significant endocrine changes which occurred very early as well as late after transplantation. Among the hormonal changes induced were a biphasic increase in the level of serum corticosterone, a biphasic decrease in serum insulin levels, an early decrease in prolactin and a terminal severe deficiency in thyroxine. The mechanism by which corticosterone levels are increased immediately following tumor transplantation appears to involve post-thymic T cells. In addition, the corticosterone response after tumor transplantation seems to be restricted to syngeneic recipients and does not seem to occur with allogeneic tumor transplantation. Further, the phenomenon may require an immunogenic tumor since the relatively nonimmunogenic mammary tumor virus (MTV) induced adenocarcinoma did not increase corticosterone in syngeneic C3H/He mice. Such data are consistent with the proposition that recognition of tumor antigen by mature T cells occurs within hours of tumor transplantation. This recognition appears to be MHC restricted. Whereas mitogen stimulation of T cells produces a glucocorticoid increasing factor designated GIF (Besedovsky et al., 1985b), it is reasonable to suggest that GIF is produced in vivo as part of the T cell response to tumor antigen. GIF in turn stimulates hypophyseal release of ACTH with a subsequent release of corticosterone from the adrenal gland. The biological relevance of this physiological increase in serum levels of corticosterone was examined with respect to the anti-inflammatory phenomenon often observed after tumor transplantation. First, a concordance was noted following tumor transplantation between elevated corticosterone levels and anti-inflammation. Similarly, transplantation of the MTV induced mammary adenocarcinoma which failed to increase serum levels of corticosterone did not exhibit anti-inflammation. Consistent with the concept that corticosterone levels increase following T cell recognition of tumor antigens, it is known that anti-inflammation does not occur with weakly immunogenic tumors but does follow transplantation of moderately immunogenic tumors (Normann, 1985b; Normann et al., 1985a). Second, adrenalectomy prevented the corticosterone response to tumor transplantation and eliminated tumor associated anti-inflammation. Additional studies are necessary to determine if the increase in serum levels of corticosterone alters other parameters of the host response to tumors. Anti-inflammation was shown to occur following tumor transplantation via a corticosterone dependent pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Hormonal changes following tumor transplantation: factors increasing corticosterone and the relationship of corticosterone to tumor-induced anti-inflammation.

EL-4 lymphoma cells transplanted to syngeneic C57BL/6J mice induced a biphasic decrease in inflammation and a bi-phasic increase in serum levels of corticosterone. In addition, this tumor altered serum levels of 3 other hormones, resulting in a biphasic decrease in insulin, an early decrease in prolactin, and a terminal severe deficiency in thyroxine. Early changes occurred 16 to 48 hr after tumor transplantation and were of variable duration, while late-phase defects developed during the last few days of life. Soluble factors associated with tumor growth may mediate certain hormonal changes since serum levels of corticosterone increased and insulin decreased following injection of tumorous ascites into normal mice. Further, injection of cell-free tumor culture supernatants increased corticosterone levels. Hormonal changes following injection of soluble factors occurred after a delay of 16 hr indicating that the factors acted indirectly. Surgical adrenalectomy blocked the corticosterone increase induced by tumor transplantation or ascites injection and eliminated the anti-inflammatory effect of tumor transplantation while significantly decreasing the effect associated with injection of tumorous ascites. Thus, the physiologically induced increase in serum levels of corticosterone reached anti-inflammatory levels. Further, elevated levels of corticosterone are a major contributing factor to anti-inflammation induced by tumorous ascites injection and constitute the principal mechanism of anti-inflammation following tumor transplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Interactions between endogenous glucocorticoids and inflammatory responses in normal and tumor-bearing mice: role of T cells.

Appropriately stimulated lymphocytes and macrophages produce factors in vitro that increase serum corticosterone levels when injected in vivo. In this study, we used euthymic and congenitally athymic mice on a BALB/c background to explore the role of T cells in controlling corticosterone levels and the leukocyte response to inflammation. Adult athymic mice had more intense inflammatory reactions than euthymic mice despite higher basal corticosterone levels. This latter condition may be due to interleukin-1 (IL-1) since macrophages from athymic mice when stimulated in vitro by lipopolysaccharide produced more IL-1 than macrophages from euthymic mice. In response to mitogen stimulation, however, splenocytes from athymic mice produced a factor (not IL-1), which, upon injection, increased corticosterone levels and suppressed inflammation. Production of this factor was enhanced by T cells since splenocyte supernatants from euthymic mice were more potent in eliciting both effects. Evidence for in vivo participation of T cells in regulating corticosterone levels was obtained by tumor transplantation. Injection of syngeneic tumor cells or cell-free tumorous ascites rapidly increased corticosterone levels in euthymic but not athymic mice. Anti-inflammation correlated with increased corticosterone levels but was observed also in athymic mice receiving syngeneic tumor transplants. These studies demonstrate that T cells enhance production of a lymphokine that increases corticosterone levels and are required for the corticosterone response to tumor transplantation. In addition, the data suggest two pathways of anti-inflammation in tumor-bearing hosts: a corticosterone-independent, T cell-independent mechanism and a T cell-dependent mechanism that involves a lymphokine-mediated increase in corticosterone blood levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Corticotropin-releasing factor-producing neurons in the rat activated by interleukin-1.

Intraperitoneal administration of human recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1) to rats can increase blood levels of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The route by which IL-1 affects pituitary-adrenal activity is unknown. That the IL-1-induced pituitary-adrenal activation involves an increased secretion of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is indicated by three lines of evidence. First, immunoneutralization of CRF markedly attenuated the IL-1-induced increase of ACTH blood levels. Second, after blockade of fast axonal transport in hypothalamic neurons by colchicine, IL-1 administration decreased the CRF immunostaining in the median eminence, indicating an enhanced release of CRF in response to IL-1. Third, IL-1 did not stimulate ACTH release from primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells. These data further support the notion of the existence of an immunoregulatory feedback circuit between the immune system and the brain.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1987

Neuroendocrine and metabolic responses induced by interleukin-1.

We have previously demonstrated that Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a cytokine mainly produced by activated monocytes, stimulates the pituitary-adrenal axis and affects glucose homeostasis. Comparative studies revealed that a beta form of recombinant human IL-1, similar to the mature peptide secreted naturally, is more powerful than other preparations of this monokine in stimulating adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone output. Another monokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), does not share with IL-1 the capacity to induce such effects. In extending our studies to rats, we showed that increased ACTH and blood corticosterone levels are also induced by IL-1 in this species. Another in vivo activity of IL-1 relates to its capacity to induce a reduction in blood glucose levels. Our studies strongly suggest that, as opposed to other effects elicited by IL-1, blockade of prostaglandin synthesis does not affect the capacity of IL-1 to stimulate insulin output and produce hypoglycemia. Administration of IL-1 to adrenalectomized mice, which are defective in counterregulatory mechanisms of glucose homeostasis, resulted in marked hypoglycemia. In contrast to the response observed in normal mice, in adrenalectomized animals this effect was paralleled by decreased blood insulin levels. IL-1 was also injected into alloxan-diabetic mice. A marked reduction in blood glucose levels occurred in these animals. This effect was already noticeable 1 hr after injection. After 2 hr and for at least another 6 hr, glucose levels of alloxan-treated mice injected with IL-1 remained within the normal range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1987

Interleukin 1 affects glucose homeostasis.

Alterations in glucose metabolism are known to occur during certain types of inflammation and infectious diseases. Interleukin 1 (IL 1), an immune-derived cytokine released during these processes, is proposed to function as a mediator of such alterations, since administration of low subpyrogenic doses of human rIL 1 to mice and rats produced hypoglycemia. In mice this effect was paralleled by increased insulin, glucagon, and corticosterone blood levels. When IL 1 was repeatedly injected, mice remained hypoglycemic for at least 14 h after the last injection. Furthermore, these animals responded normally to a challenge with glucose, thus suggesting that the proper function of the pancreas was preserved. A moderate hypoglycemia, paralleled by increased glucagon and corticosterone blood levels, was also observed in IL 1-injected rats, but no increase in insulin levels was detected. IL 1 administration to adrenalectomized rats resulted in a more marked hypoglycemia and in a profound hypoinsulinemia. The results suggest that IL 1 causes hypoglycemia by increasing insulin blood levels and probably also by mechanisms independent of the insulin secretagogue action of this cytokine.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1986

Immunoregulatory feedback between interleukin-1 and glucocorticoid hormones.

The production and action of immunoregulatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), are inhibited by glucocorticoid hormones in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, glucocorticoid blood levels were increased by factors released by human leukocytes exposed to Newcastle disease virus preparations. This activity was neutralized by an antibody to IL-1. Therefore the capacity of IL-1 to stimulate the pituitary-adrenal axis was tested. Administration of subpyrogenic doses of homogeneous human monocyte-derived IL-1 or the pI 7 form of human recombinant IL-1 to mice and rats increased blood levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoids. Another monokine, tumor necrosis factor, and the lymphokines IL-2 and gamma-interferon had no such effects when administered in doses equivalent to or higher than those of IL-1. The stimulatory effect of IL-1 on the pituitary-adrenal axis seemed not to be mediated by the secondary release of products from mature T lymphocytes since IL-1 was endocrinologically active when injected into athymic nude mice. These results strongly support the existence of an immunoregulatory feedback circuit in which IL-1 acts as an afferent and glucocorticoid as an efferent hormonal signal.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1977

Hypothalamic changes during the immune response.

The immune system is subject to an array of identified autoregulatory processes, but immunoregulation may also have a further basis in a network of immune-neuroendocrine interactions. Two antigens each produced an increase of more than 100% in electrical activity of individual neurones in the ventromedial but not in the anterior nucleus of the rat hypothalamus. Animals that failed to respond to antigen manifested no increase in the firing rate. These findings constitute the first evidence for a flow of information from the activated immune system to the hypothalamus, suggesting that the brain is involved in the immune response.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1977

Network of immune-neuroendocrine interactions.

In order to bring the self-regulated immune system into conformity with other body systems its functioning within the context of an immune-neuroendocrine network is proposed. This hypothesis is based on the existence of afferent--efferent pathways between immune and neuroendocrine structures. Major endocrine responses occur as a consequence of antigenic stimulation and changes in the electrical activity of the hypothalamus also take place; both of these alterations are temporally related to the immune response itself. This endocrine response has meaningful implications for immunoregulation and for immunospecificity. During ontogeny, there is also evidence for the operations of a complex network between the endocrine and immune system, a bidirectional interrelationship that may well affect each developmental stage of both functions. As sequels the functioning of the immune system and the outcome of this interrelation could be decisive in lymphoid cell homeostasis, self-tolerance, and could also have significant implications for pathology.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Changes in blood hormone levels during the immune response.

Injection of three different antigens into rats or mice led in the course of several days to about a threefold increase in serum corticosterone levels and concommitantly to a decrease in thyroxine (rats). In view of the known immuno-suppressive effect of the glucocorticoids the possibility is considered that the endocrine changes induced during the immune response could significantly modulate the subsequent character of the immune response, e.i. magnitude, duration and lymphoid cell proliferation, however, a more complete pattern of hormonal variations and their cause needs to be established. These findings while admittedly preliminary, suffice to provide an indication of a temporal pattern of hormonal change during the immune response which could be important in immunoregulation.

Animals↗