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The immunomodulator OM-89 induces ACTH and glucocorticoid secretion in rats through an IL-1 dependent pathway
J Mimouni1, J C Farine, A Melhaoui
1Laboratory of Cell Physiology, University Claude Bernard Lyon-1, Villeurbanne, France.
Abstract:
The immunomodulator OM-89 (bacterial extract from E. coli), known to act on the immune system by modulating both humoral and cellular responses, significantly increases ACTH and glucocorticoids secretion in normal Wistar rats. A comparative administration of IL-1 displays a similar pattern of release. Moreover, OM-89-induced responses are blocked by IL-1ra, the soluble receptor antagonist of IL-1. The effect of OM-89 can thus be explained, at least in part, via IL-1 which directly enhances the secretion of both stress hormones. Finally, a comparative experiment between control and stressed rats (by immobilization) shows that the responses to OM-89 measured in this study (ACTH and corticosterone secretion) are stress-modulated.