G. Tringali et al., Depolarization and a NO-donor stimulate interleukin-1 beta release from the rat hypothalamus via a mechanism involving caspase 1, NEUROSCI L, 276(2), 1999, pp. 119-122
Previous in vitro studies showed that rat hypothalamic explants release int
erleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta); such release is significantly increased by sev
eral stimuli including 56 mM KCl and NO-donors in 20-min experiments. Here
we tested the hypothesis that the above stimuli act via a mechanism involvi
ng cleavage of the IL-1 beta precursor by interleukin-1 beta converting enz
yme (ICE, also referred to as caspase-1). A cell-permeable form of the casp
ase-1 inhibitor I acid two different stimuli, 56 mM KCl and sodium nitropru
sside (SNP), were used. The inhibitor was able to counteract the increase i
n IL-1 beta release induced by both K+ and SNP, while having no effect on b
asal release. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.