Objective: Bidirectional communication between the neuroendocrine and immune systems is now a subject of an intensive investigation. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is synthesized by the hypothalamus, but is present also in the immune cells. Some recent data indicate also an immunomodulatory role of the neuropeptide. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of GHRH(1-44)NH2 on interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 secretion from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured in vitro.
Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated by centrifugation using Böyum technique and cultured in a humidified atmosphere of 5 % CO2 and 95 % O2 at 37 degrees C for 24 hours in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at the concentration of 2 microg/ml and GHRH(1-44)NH2 (the final neuropeptide concentrations to be tested were 10(-12) to 10(-6) M). ELISA methods were used to measure IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the supernatants of cultured cells
Results: GHRH(1-44)NH2 influenced IL-6 secretion from cultured cells, but significant inhibition of IL-6 release was observed at 10-6 M (p < 0.001). The negative correlation between the GHRH concentration studied and the IL-6 level in the supernatants was found (r = -0.759; p < 0.001). GHRH had no influence on the secretion of IL-8 from activated PBMC.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that GHRH in vitro modulates IL-6 secretion from the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, without any significant effect on IL-8 secretion.