Interleukin-1 Stimulates Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Gene Expression in Rat Hypothalamus*

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Abstract
To examine the effect of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on CRF and POMC gene expression, recombinant human IL-1.alpha. and -.beta. were ip injected in rats. The plasma ACTH level showed a dose-related increase at 2 h after the injection of 0.5 and 2 .mu.g IL-1.alpha. and -.beta., and also showed a sustained increase from 1 h until 5 h after the injection of 2 .mu.g of IL-1.beta.. CRF contents in the medical basal hypothalamus and ACTH contents in the anterior pituitary (AP) decreased at 2 h after the injection of 2 .mu.g of IL-1.alpha. and -.beta., and such decreased levels were maintained until 5 h after the injection of 2 .mu.g of IL-1.beta.. The levels of CRF mRNA in the hypothalamus and POMC mRNA in AP significantly increased 3 h after the injection of 2 .mu.g IL-1.alpha. and -.beta., and these levels were still higher at 5 h after the injection of 2 .mu.g of IL-1.beta. compared with those of the control. There was no significant change in the ACTH content and POMC mRNA levels in the intermediate-posterior pituitary or the hypothalamus or in the CRF contents and CRF mRNA levels in the cerebral cortex. These results indicate that acute administration of IL-1.alpha. and -.beta. stimulates gene expression of hypothalamic CRF and CRF release, which causes the stimulation of ACTH release and POMC gene expression in AP.

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