Somatostatin (SRIF) stimulates the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) from human peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) in vitro.

Recent evidence has revealed that various neuropeptides appear to have distinct roles as immunomodulators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of hypothalamic neuropeptides (thyreoliberin [TRH], somatostatin [SRIF], and gonadoliberin [LH-RH]) on the secretion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated human peripheral blood monocytes (PM) cultured in vitro. LPS in concentration 1.5 micrograms/ml stimulated PBM to release IL-1 beta or IL-6 into the supernatants. SRIF in concentrations from 10(-8)M to 10(-10)M (but neither RH nor LH-RH in the same concentrations) potentiated the release of IL-6 from PBM. None of the tested neuropeptides stimulated the release of IL-1 beta from LPS activated human monocytes. These data indicate that SRIF in physiological or pharmacological concentrations which activate the release of IL-6 from PBM may be one of the regulators of immune response in humans.