GROWTH-HORMONE RELEASE OF INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA, INTERFERON-GAMMA AND INTERLEUKIN-4 FROM MURINE SPLENOCYTES STIMULATED WITH STAPHYLOCOCCAL PROTEIN-A, TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME TOXIN-1 AND STREPTOCOCCAL LYSIN-S

We investigated changes in the IL-1 alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-4 release from splenocytes in the presence of Growth hormone (GH). Splenocytes w ere stimulated with Protein A (PA), Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 (TSST -1) and Streptolysin S (SLS). In the presence of GH, splenocytes stimu lated with PA, induced a 40% and 50% drop in IL-1 alpha and IFN-gamma release respectively, compared to controls, while no changes were show n in IL-4 release. The release of IFN-gamma by TSST-1-stimulated splen ocytes fell by 30%, while no changes were shown in IL-1 alpha and IL-4 release after GH. The release of IL-1 alpha by SLS-stimulated splenoc ytes increased by 50% in the presence of GH. No changes were shown in IFN-gamma and IL-4 release. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility of an expanding function for these endocrine peptides with in the immune system.