Exercise and circadian rhythm-induced variations in plasma cortisol differentially regulate interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) production in humans: high sensitivity of TNF alpha and resistance of IL-6.

Although we have previously shown that the integrity of inflammatory mediator-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is essential for conferring resistance to inflammatory disease in susceptible Lewis rats, the role of endogenous glucocorticoid secretion in human immune function in either health or disease is less clear. To further understand the relevance of physiological variations in plasma cortisol on immune function in humans, we evaluated ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) production in the whole blood of healthy volunteers studied under conditions chosen to approximate either physiological or pharmacological glucocorticoid levels. Administration of a pharmacological dose of hydrocortisone suppressed the production of all three cytokines, whereas administration of a physiological dose of hydrocortisone suppressed only TNF alpha production. Stress-induced levels of glucocorticoids, achieved during exercise at 100% maximal oxygen utilization, suppressed IL-1 beta and TNF alpha production, but were without effect on IL-6 production. In addition, circadian variations of cortisol were associated with decreased TNF alpha production, but were without effect on IL-1 beta or IL-6 production. These studies challenge the generally accepted idea that glucocorticoids consistently suppress cytokine production and indicate a hierarchy of sensitivity, with TNF alpha having the greatest sensitivity, IL-1 beta having intermediate sensitivity, and IL-6 being resistant. The resistance of IL-6 production to glucocorticoid suppression is compatible with data suggesting an antiinflammatory as well as a proinflammatory action for this cytokine.