EFFECT OF GROWTH-HORMONE, PROLACTIN AND INSULIN ON THE RELEASE OF IL-1-ALPHA, IFN-GAMMA AND IL-4 BY STAPHYLOCOCCAL-ENTEROTOXIN A-STIMULATEDSPLENOCYTES

The regulation by peptide hormones (Growth Hormone, Prolactin, Insulin ) of cytokine secretion by splenocytes stimulated with Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A was studied, Growth hormone increases the release of IFN -gamma from splenocytes stimulated with Enterotoxin A by 50% but consi derably decreases IL-1 alpha release by 93%, Prolactin decreases the r elease of IL-1 alpha by 80%, but has no significant effects on IFN-gam ma release, Insulin causes a 50% decrease in IFN-gamma and 95% decreas e in IL-1 alpha. IL-4 release was not changed, The results are discuss ed in terms of the possibility of an interesting function for these en docrine peptides which expands their range of biologic activities with in the immune system.