EFFECT OF THE CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE PRECURSOR ON INTERLEUKIN-6 RELEASE BY HUMAN MONONUCLEAR-CELLS

A growing body of evidence suggests that corticotrophin releasing horm one (CRH) may exert direct modulatory effects on immune cells. In the present study we assessed the effects of its precursor molecule, proCR H, on interleukin-6 (IL-6) release by human peripheral blood mononucle ar cells (MNC). Human MNC were incubated with the corresponding stimul i for 24 hr, The supernatants were collected and IL-6 measured by ELIS A. Conditioned medium from CHO-K1 cells stably transfected with the re combinant plasmid pEE14/rat pre-proCRH cDNA was used as the source of proCRH, Western blot analysis of this medium, using an antibody specif ic for the intact precursor, showed that no proCRH degradation product s were present. The proCRH had an inhibitory effect on basal and LPS-s timulated release of IL-6. These results suggest that the full length CRH precursor may possess immunomodulatory properties. (C) 1997 Academ ic Press.