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Growth hormone stimulates production of interferon-gamma by human peripheral mononuclear cells
A Mustafa1, F Nyberg, M Mustafa
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Family Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Human growth hormone (hGH) stimulates immune cells that produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). This study shows hGH increases both the number of IFN-gamma-secreting cells and IFN-gamma production in a dose-dependent manner.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The immune and endocrine systems exhibit complex interactions.
- Human growth hormone (hGH) plays a role in various physiological processes.
- Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a key cytokine in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of hGH on the proliferation of interferon-gamma-secreting cells (IFN-gamma-SC).
- To determine if hGH influences the production of IFN-gamma.
- To explore the potential immunomodulatory role of hGH.
Main Methods:
- Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 normal subjects were cultured with varying doses of recombinant hGH (200-800 ng/ml).
- Control groups were incubated with PBS buffer.
- IFN-gamma-SC were enumerated using an Immunospot assay.
- IFN-gamma concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Main Results:
- hGH significantly increased the number of IFN-gamma-SC in a dose-dependent manner.
- hGH significantly elevated IFN-gamma concentration in a dose-dependent manner.
- Maximum stimulation was observed at 400 ng/ml hGH, with a 3.75-fold increase in IFN-gamma-SC and a 6-fold increase in IFN-gamma levels compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- hGH demonstrates a stimulatory effect on IFN-gamma-SC proliferation.
- hGH enhances IFN-gamma production by immune cells.
- These findings suggest hGH may play a role in modulating immune system activity through IFN-gamma pathways.
Abstract:
There is substantial evidence for interactions between the immune and endocrine systems at different levels. In the present study we investigated whether human growth hormone (hGH) could stimulate proliferation of interferon-gamma-secreting cells (IFN-gamma-SC), and production of IFN-gamma. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) taken from 15 normal subjects were incubated with varying doses (200,400,600 and 800 ng/ml) of recombinant hGH. Samples of cells were also incubated with PBS buffer (without hGH) to serve as controls. Effects of hGH were studied by enumerating IFN-gamma-SC and by measuring the concentration of IFN-gamma using an Immunospot assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The results showed that hGH significantly increased both the number of IFN-gamma-SC and the concentration of IFN-gamma in a dose-dependent manner. The maximum effects were obtained in the presence of (400 ng/ml) hGH (15 +/- .5 IFN-gamma-SC/10(6) PBMC and 300 +/- 55 U/ml IFN-gamma) compared to controls (4 +/- 2 IFN-gamma-SC/10(6) PBMC and 50 +/- 10 U/ml IFN-gamma). The results of the present study suggest that hGH might influence the immune system by stimulating the proliferation of IFN-gamma-SC and the production of IFN-gamma.