Interleukin-2 given to asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals leads to an exaggerated response of the pituitary gland to the action of CRH

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 104 - 109
• Main Authors: Witzke, Oliver, Winterhagen, Toni, Kribben, Andreas, Philipp, Thomas, Mann, Klaus, Reinhardt, Walter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.07.2003; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - metabolism; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Endocrinopathies; HIV Infections - blood; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Human viral diseases; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis (diseases); Infectious diseases; Interleukin-2 - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Pituitary Gland - drug effects; Pituitary Gland - metabolism; Prospective Studies; Stimulation, Chemical; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Human; Immunopathology; Endocrine gland; Cytokine; Corticotropin releasing factor; AIDS; Asymptomatic; Immune deficiency; Biological activity; Heavy metal; Infection; Interleukin 2; Viral disease; Pituitary gland

Summary background and aims Studies investigating the impact of interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) on the corticotroph axis have shown that IL‐2 can stimulate cortisol and ACTH secretion. However, the site, the time course and the mechanisms of IL‐2 stimulation of the corticotroph axis are still not known. The ai...