Interleukin-4 increases cortisol release and decreases adrenal androgen release from bovine adrenal cells

• Published in: Domestic animal endocrinology Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 372 - 382
• Main Authors: Woods, Alison M., Judd, Allan M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2008; [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier Science Pub. Co
• Subjects: Adrenal; adrenal cortex; Adrenal Glands - drug effects; Adrenal Glands - metabolism; Androgen; androgens; Androgens - secretion; Animals; cattle; Cattle - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; corticotropin; Cortisol; cultured cells; Cytokine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; hormonal regulation; hormone secretion; Hydrocortisone - secretion; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-4 - metabolism; Interleukin-4 - pharmacology; interleukin-4 receptors; physiological regulation; receptors; Receptors, Interleukin-4 - metabolism; Stress, Physiological - metabolism; Time Factors; tissue distribution; Zona Fasciculata - metabolism; Zona Reticularis - metabolism; Interleukin-4; Cortisol; Androgen; Adrenal; Cytokine
• ISSN: 0739-7240; 1879-0054
• DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2007.10.004

ACTH is the primary regulator of adrenal function during acute stress. However, during chronic inflammatory stress additional factors play a major role in the regulation of adrenal secretion. Many cytokines circulate in the blood and are synthesized and released from adrenal tissue. Furthermore, these peptides modify adrenal function. Recently, interleukin-4 (IL-4) was demonstrated to be released from a human adrenal tumor cell line. Therefore, we hypothesized that normal bovine adrenocortical cells could express IL-4 and that this cytokine may modify adrenal function. We determined that IL-4 and IL-4 receptors (IL-4R) are expressed in the bovine adrenal cortex whereas the expression of IL-4 and IL-4R in the adrenal medulla was not apparent. Exposure of dispersed bovine adrenocortical cells isolated from the zona fasciculate to IL-4 did not modify basal release of cortisol. However, the ACTH-stimulated release of cortisol from the bovine adrenal cells was augmented by IL-4. IL-4 exposure had no affect on adrenal androgen release from bovine zona reticularis cells, but IL-4 inhibited the ACTH-stimulated release of adrenal androgens from these cells. The effects of IL-4 on ACTH-stimulated cortisol and adrenal androgen release were dependent upon the IL-4 incubation interval and the IL-4 concentration. Because communication between the immune and endocrine systems is important in inflammatory conditions, IL-4 may play a role in coordinating the adrenal response to inflammatory stress.