Immunomodulatory properties of cyclic hexapeptide oxytocin antagonists.

The thymic repertoire of neuroendocrine 'self' antigens has been previously described on the basis of the intrathymic expression of neurohypophysial (NHP)- and tachykinin-related peptide signals and receptors. According to that model, the cryptocrine signalling between thymic epithelial/nurse cells and thymocytes through NHP-related signals and receptors constitutes one accessory pathway in the process of T-cell differentiation and/or activation. A pharmacological manipulation of that novel type of cell-to-cell signalling was tested by the investigation of the immunomodulatory properties of novel cyclic hexapeptide oxytocin (OT) antagonists (MSD Research Laboratories). These compounds were found to significantly inhibit the productions of cytokines (mainly IL-1 beta and IL-6) elicited by anti-CD3 treatment of human whole blood cell cultures. Cytokine productions were more significantly reduced by OT antagonists in whole blood cell cultures derived from female volunteers than in those obtained from male donors, suggesting an influence of the gonadal steroid environment on the expression of NHP peptide receptors by immune cells. These observations support the concept of novel immunomodulating approaches through immune-specific neuropeptide antagonists, as well as the pharmacological value of such strategies in selective immunotherapy.