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Evidence for a positive correlation between serum cortisol levels and IL-1β production by peripheral mononuclear cells in anorexia nervosa

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Abstract

A hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been reported in anorexia nervosa (AN), together with some immunological abnormalities, involving citokine — and particularly Tumor Necrosis-Factor-α (TNF-α) — production by polymorphonuclear cells. The ability of pro-inflammatory cytokines to activate the HPA axis is well known; however, there are no data demonstrating an interdependence between immunological and endocrine response in AN. To investigate the presence of a correlation between immune response and pituitary-adrenal function, plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations were measured in 13 AN patients and in the same number of controls. TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-1β production by ex-vivo unstimulated and LPS-stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells was also assessed. Circulating cortisol concentrations were higher (p<0.01) in AN (156.7±45.1 μg/l, mean±SD) than in controls (105.9±25.7 μg/l). Unstimulated IL-1β release in supernatants of mononuclear cell cultures was slightly but not significantly higher in AN than in controls, while TNF-α release was similar in the two groups. A positive correlation was found between IL-1β concentrations in unstimulated culture supranatants and serum cortisol levels in AN (r=0.782, p=0.002), while in normal subjects there was a trend toward a negative correlation; a slight positive correlation, while not significant, between IL-1β and plasma ACTH, as well as between TNF-α and serum cortisol was also found in AN. These data suggest that the normal relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines release, particularly IL-1β and cortisol secretion is deranged in AN.

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  1. Paolo Limone M.D.

    Present address: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, C.so A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126, Torino, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, C.so A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126, Torino, Italy

    F. Bottino, P. Calvelli, C. Berardi, P. Ajmone-Catt, A. Bertagna, R. P. Tarocco & G. M. Molinatti

  2. Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Italy

    S. Fassino & G. G. Rovera

  3. Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, Italy

    A. Biglino & B. Forno

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Limone, P., Biglino, A., Bottino, F. et al. Evidence for a positive correlation between serum cortisol levels and IL-1β production by peripheral mononuclear cells in anorexia nervosa. J Endocrinol Invest 23, 422–427 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03343750

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