The role of immunopeptides in the regulation of anterior pituitary hormone release.

The anterior pituitary lobe secretes hormones that regulate the functioning of the immune system which, in turn, produces thymic hormones and interleukin proteins capable of altering neuroendocrine responsiveness. Interleukin-1 is released during inflammation and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which subsequently diminishes the immune response. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulates prolactin and growth hormone release in vitro from anterior pituitary cells which, in turn, are capable of producing IL-6. The possible production of IL-6 by the anterior pituitary in situ suggests an autocrine and/or paracrine role for this cytokine in the regulation of hormone release.