Endotoxin-induced release of tumour necrosis factor and interferon in vivo is inhibited by prior adrenoceptor blockade.

The effect of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents on endotoxin-induced release of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and of interferon in the circulation of Corynebacterium parvum-treated mice was the subject of this study. TNF was quantified after injection of TNF containing heated serum (TNS) into Meth A sarcoma-bearing mice by determining colour, extent, and incidence of haemorrhagic necrosis. The release of TNF was weakly inhibited by the competitive alpha-blocker phentolamine and the beta-blocker propranolol. The non-competitive alpha-blocker phenoxybenzamine inhibited to a higher degree. Endotoxin-induced elicitation of growth-inhibiting principles into TNS was antagonized by propranolol and phenoxybenzamine. Administration of adrenaline before endotoxin inhibited the elicitation of TNF and growth-inhibitory activities, which indicates tachyphylaxis. The release of interferon was effectively inhibited by both alpha-adrenoceptor blockers but not by propranolol. The interferon was heat-labile. The results indicate that endotoxin-induced TNF and interferon are separate factors, elicited in different ways. As both alpha-blockers do not only inhibit reactions at the alpha-adrenergic receptor but also reactions at the serotonin receptor and in the case of phenoxybenzamine also at the choline receptor, it is suggested that endotoxin-induced release of the anti-tumour factors is controlled by reactions mediated by one or more of these receptors. It is suggested that the inhibition of TNF release by propranolol may be due to the membrane-stabilizing activity of this agent.