Vasopressin replacement of interleukin 2 requirement in gamma interferon production: lymphokine activity of a neuroendocrine hormone.

The neuroendocrine antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) was capable of replacing the interleukin 2 (IL 2) requirement for gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) production by Lyt-2+ cells from C57BL/6 mouse spleen cells. The AVP replacement did not stimulate DNA synthesis in the target lymphocytes. This suggested that AVP was capable of replacing an IL 2 function that did not involve stimulation of cellular proliferation or DNA synthesis. This was confirmed by the demonstration that mitomycin C inhibition of IFN gamma production was reversed by IL 2 or AVP without concomitant reversal of blockage of DNA synthesis. Oxytocin, which is structurally related to AVP, was also capable of replacing IL 2 requirement for IFN gamma production, whereas insulin was ineffective. The data show that the neuroendocrine hormones AVP and oxytocin are capable of lymphokine-like activity. This activity may involve the induction of a second messenger such as cyclic GMP.