Abstract
In this paper we review the historical milestones that first highlighted the existence of a relationship between melatonin and the immune system and we summarize data from experiments which correlate the rhythmic production of melatonin with the rhythmic activity of the immune system. The effects of pinealectomy and in vivo administration of melatonin on a variety of immune parameters, including specific and non-specific immunity are considered and we also present contradictory data concerning the effect of melatonin in cultured immunocompetent cells and a possible scheme of how melatonin regulates the production of a number of cytokines. Finally, the mechanism of action of melatonin in the immune system is discussed. Many data suggest the existence of both nuclear and membrane receptors for melatonin in the immune system. Both of these appear to be clearly identified but their specific physiological role is still under discussion. In summary, although there is overwhelming information demonstrat ing the immunoenhancing properties of melatonin, many questions related to the cytokines involved and the mechanisms of action of the indoleamine require answers.
Keywords: Melatonin-Immune, interferon-gamma, immunostimulated macrophages, forskolin-stimulated
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Melatonin-Immune System Relationships
Volume: 2 Issue: 2
Author(s): Juan M. Guerrero and Russel J. Reiter
Affiliation:
Keywords: Melatonin-Immune, interferon-gamma, immunostimulated macrophages, forskolin-stimulated
Abstract: In this paper we review the historical milestones that first highlighted the existence of a relationship between melatonin and the immune system and we summarize data from experiments which correlate the rhythmic production of melatonin with the rhythmic activity of the immune system. The effects of pinealectomy and in vivo administration of melatonin on a variety of immune parameters, including specific and non-specific immunity are considered and we also present contradictory data concerning the effect of melatonin in cultured immunocompetent cells and a possible scheme of how melatonin regulates the production of a number of cytokines. Finally, the mechanism of action of melatonin in the immune system is discussed. Many data suggest the existence of both nuclear and membrane receptors for melatonin in the immune system. Both of these appear to be clearly identified but their specific physiological role is still under discussion. In summary, although there is overwhelming information demonstrat ing the immunoenhancing properties of melatonin, many questions related to the cytokines involved and the mechanisms of action of the indoleamine require answers.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Guerrero M. Juan and Reiter J. Russel, Melatonin-Immune System Relationships, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2002; 2 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026023394335
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026023394335 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Chemistry Based on Natural Products for Therapeutic Purposes
The development of new pharmaceuticals for a wide range of medical conditions has long relied on the identification of promising natural products (NPs). There are over sixty percent of cancer, infectious illness, and CNS disease medications that include an NP pharmacophore, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Since NP ...read more
Current Trends in Drug Discovery Based on Artificial Intelligence and Computer-Aided Drug Design
Drug development discovery has faced several challenges over the years. In fact, the evolution of classical approaches to modern methods using computational methods, or Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), has shown promising and essential results in any drug discovery campaign. Among these methods, molecular docking is one of the most notable ...read more
Drug Discovery in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we have witnessed a significant boom in AI techniques for drug discovery. AI techniques are increasingly integrated and accelerating the drug discovery process. These developments have not only attracted the attention of academia and industry but also raised important questions regarding the selection ...read more
From Biodiversity to Chemical Diversity: Focus of Flavonoids
Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites arising from the essential aromatic amino acid phenylalanine (or more rarely from tyrosine) via the phenylpropanoid pathway. The flavan nucleus is the basic 15-carbon skeleton of flavonoids (C6-C3-C6), which consists of two phenyl rings (A and B) and a heterocyclic ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Editorial [ Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE): Coming Full Circle in Unraveling the Pathogenesis of Chronic Disease Guest Editor: Ann Marie Schmidt ]
Current Molecular Medicine Influence of Quaternary Conformation on the Biological Activities of the Asp49-phospholipases A2s from Snake Venoms
Protein & Peptide Letters Application of Outer Membrane Vesicle of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B as a New Adjuvant to Induce Strongly Th1-Oriented Responses Against HIV-1
Current HIV Research Molecular Mechanism of Anti-tumor Effect by Triptolide in Hematological Malignancies
Current Signal Transduction Therapy The Role of Epigenetic Alterations Involved in Sepsis: An Overview
Current Pharmaceutical Design Structural Analysis As an Alternative to Identify and Determine Mode of Action of Antimicrobial Peptides: Proposition of a Kinetic Model Based on Molecular Dynamics Studies
Protein & Peptide Letters The Assessment of Anxiety and Depression and its Associated Factors in SLE
Current Rheumatology Reviews Glucose Levels and Outcome After Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage
Current Neurovascular Research Microbial Immune Evasion Employing Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) Proteins
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Ethnicity and Inflammatory Pathways - Implications for Vascular Disease, Vascular Risk and Therapeutic Intervention
Current Medicinal Chemistry Parallel Synthesis of a Biased Library of Thiazolidinones as Novel Sodium Channel Antagonists
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Expression of a Lipid Transfer Protein in Escherichia coli and Its Phosphorylation by a Membrane-Bound Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase
Protein & Peptide Letters Improving the Targeting of Tubulin-Binding Agents: Lessons from Drug Resistance Studies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Targeting Focal Adhesion Kinase in Neuroblastoma
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Molecular Pathology and Molecular Markers of Ductal Carcinoma in-situ
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews C-Met Inhibitors are Potential Novel Therapeutic Agents Against Listeria monocytogenes Infection Through Blocking the Bacteria Entry into Nonphagocytic Cells
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Proposed Benchmark Methods for Analyzing Acai (Euterpe oleraceae Mart.)
The Natural Products Journal Targeting Bcl-2 Family of Proteins: An Important Strategy in Cancer Therapeutics
Current Chemical Biology The IL-7/IL-7 Receptor Axis: Understanding its Central Role in T-Cell Homeostasis and the Challenges Facing its Utilization as a Novel Therapy
Current Drug Targets Does a Pro-Inflammatory Process Precede Alzheimers Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Current Alzheimer Research