Influence of CRF and alpha-MSH on the migration of human monocytes in vitro

The effects of stress in the modulation of immune responses are increasingly reported by a rapidly growing body of experimental and clinical data. Here we show that corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) stimulates 'in vitro' the migration of human monocytes, the maximum effect being obtained at 10(-14) M. On the other hand, another important neuropeptide of the stress response, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), has no significant effect on the migration of monocytes. These findings show that one of the oldest immune responses is directly modulated by a key mediator of the stress response.