Regulation of IL-18 expression by CRH in mouse microglial cells.

Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) is a major regulator of the stress response. This study examined whether CRH regulates interleukin-18 expression on microglia, BV2. Our data show that CRH enhanced IL-18 expression and significantly induced the secretion of functional IL-18 protein. Furthermore, CRH induced IL-18 production could be blocked by N-acetyl-L-cystein (NAC), which suggests that reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) may be involved in regulating IL-18. Indeed, it was also found that CRH increased the generation of ROI. Taken together, these results indicate that CRH is an important mediator that regulates IL-18 expression in the brain during stress.