Interleukin-6 response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation

Juliana B. Drummond, Beatriz S. Soares, Erica L.M. Vieira, William Pedrosa, Antonio L. Teixeira, Antônio Ribeiro-Oliveira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Increased plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to acute hypoglycemia have been well documented. Aiming to study the interaction between IL-6 and counter-regulatory hormones during hypoglycemic stress we conducted an exploratory single center study involving 26 adult patients undergoing insulin tolerance test. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia elicited a significant dynamic response of IL-6, adrenaline, noradrenaline, GH, prolactin, ACTH and serum and salivary cortisol (P < 0.001 for all variables). Patients with insufficient HPA axis response had lower hypoglycemia-induced IL-6 increase (median: 0.88 pg/mL) compared with individuals with intact HPA axis response (2.03 pg/mL, P = 0.007). IL-6 maximal increase correlated with the maximal increase of serum cortisol (rs = 0.48; P = 0.013), salivary cortisol (rs = 0.66; P = 0.012), plasma ACTH (rs = 0.48; P = 0.013) and with the increase in procedure-related symptoms of anxiety and hypoglycemia (rs = 0.57; P = 0.003). In conclusion, hypoglycemic stress-induced IL-6 increase is associated with activation of the HPA axis, suggesting that IL-6 response to hypoglycemic stress may be regarded as part of the counter-regulatory response, possibly contributing to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number577446
JournalJournal of Neuroimmunology
Volume350
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Counter-regulatory response
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
  • Insulin-tolerance-test
  • Interleukin-6
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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