The role of IL-1 in the corticotropin-releasing factor and arginine- vasopressin-induced secretion of immunoreactive beta-endorphin by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulate the secretion of beta-endorphin by human PBMC. It is shown here that peripheral blood B cells are responsible for the production of beta-endorphin after culture with CRF and AVP. The presence of CD14+ monocytes is, however, a prerequisite for the enhancing activity of CRF and AVP. The data presented here show that rIL-1 beta can replace CRF and AVP, whereas a mAb directed against IL-1 abrogates the response to CRF and AVP. These results indicate that IL-1 mediates the effect of CRF and AVP on beta-endorphin production by human PBMC.