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Calvo JR, Maldonado MD. Immunoregulatory properties of melatonin in the humoral immune system: A narrative review. Immunol Lett 2024; 269:106901. [PMID: 39032910 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2024.106901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Melatonin is the major product both synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland during the night period and it is the principal chronobiotic hormone that regulates the circadian rhythms and seasonal changes in vertebrate biology. Moreover, melatonin shows both a broad distribution along the phylogenetically distant organisms and a high functional versatility. At the present time, a significant amount of experimental evidence has been reported in scientific literature and has clearly shown a functional relationship between the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. The biochemistry basis of the functional communication between these systems is the utilization of a common chemicals signals. In this framework, at present melatonin is considered to be a relevant member of the so-called neuro-endocrine-immunological network. Thus, both in vivo and in vitro investigations conducted in both experimental animals and humans, have clearly documented that melatonin has an important immunomodulatory role. However, most of the published results refer to information on T lymphocytes, i.e., cell-mediated immunity. On the contrary, fewer studies have been carried out on B lymphocytes, the cells responsible for the so-called humoral immunity. In this review, we have focused on the biological role of melatonin in the humoral immunity. More precisely, we report the actions of melatonin on B lymphocytes biology and on the production of different types of antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan R Calvo
- Department Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Seville Medical School, Spain.
| | - María D Maldonado
- Department Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Seville Medical School, Spain
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Horodincu L, Solcan C. Influence of Different Light Spectra on Melatonin Synthesis by the Pineal Gland and Influence on the Immune System in Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2095. [PMID: 37443893 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that the pineal gland in birds influences behavioural and physiological functions, including those of the immune system. The purpose of this research is to examine the endocrine-immune correlations between melatonin and immune system activity. Through a description of the immune-pineal axis, we formulated the objective to determine and describe: the development of the pineal gland; how light influences secretory activity; and how melatonin influences the activity of primary and secondary lymphoid organs. The pineal gland has the ability to turn light information into an endocrine signal suitable for the immune system via the membrane receptors Mel1a, Mel1b, and Mel1c, as well as the nuclear receptors RORα, RORβ, and RORγ. We can state the following findings: green monochromatic light (560 nm) increased serum melatonin levels and promoted a stronger humoral and cellular immune response by proliferating B and T lymphocytes; the combination of green and blue monochromatic light (560-480 nm) ameliorated the inflammatory response and protected lymphoid organs from oxidative stress; and red monochromatic light (660 nm) maintained the inflammatory response and promoted the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Melatonin can be considered a potent antioxidant and immunomodulator and is a critical element in the coordination between external light stimulation and the body's internal response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Horodincu
- Preclinics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" Iasi University of Life Sciences, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
| | - Carmen Solcan
- Preclinics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" Iasi University of Life Sciences, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
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Ziegler AK, Watson H, Hegemann A, Meitern R, Canoine V, Nilsson JÅ, Isaksson C. Exposure to artificial light at night alters innate immune response in wild great tit nestlings. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.239350. [PMID: 33771912 PMCID: PMC8180251 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.239350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The large-scale impact of urbanization on wildlife is rather well documented; however, the mechanisms underlying the effects of urban environments on animal physiology and behaviour are still poorly understood. Here, we focused on one major urban pollutant - artificial light at night (ALAN) - and its effects on the capacity to mount an innate immune response in wild great tit (Parus major) nestlings. Exposure to ALAN alters circadian rhythms of physiological processes, by disrupting the nocturnal production of the hormone melatonin. Nestlings were exposed to a light source emitting 3 lx for seven consecutive nights. Subsequently, nestlings were immune challenged with a lipopolysaccharide injection, and we measured haptoglobin and nitric oxide levels pre- and post-injection. Both haptoglobin and nitric oxide are important markers for innate immune function. We found that ALAN exposure altered the innate immune response, with nestlings exposed to ALAN having lower haptoglobin and higher nitric oxide levels after the immune challenge compared with dark-night nestlings. Unexpectedly, nitric oxide levels were overall lower after the immune challenge than before. These effects were probably mediated by melatonin, as ALAN-treated birds had on average 49% lower melatonin levels than the dark-night birds. ALAN exposure did not have any clear effects on nestling growth. This study provides a potential physiological mechanism underlying the documented differences in immune function between urban and rural birds observed in other studies. Moreover, it gives evidence that ALAN exposure affects nestling physiology, potentially causing long-term effects on physiology and behaviour, which ultimately can affect their fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah Watson
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Richard Meitern
- Department of Zoology, University of Tartu, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Virginie Canoine
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1090Vienna, Austria
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Paiola M, Moreira C, Hétru J, Duflot A, Pinto PIS, Scapigliati G, Knigge T, Monsinjon T. Prepubertal gonad investment modulates thymus function: evidence in a teleost fish. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:238091. [PMID: 33789987 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.238576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Thymus plasticity following gonadectomy or sex hormone replacement has long since exemplified sex hormone effects on the immune system in mammals and, to a lesser extent, in 'lower vertebrates', including amphibians and fish. Nevertheless, the underlying physiological significances as well as the ontogenetic establishment of this crosstalk remain largely unknown. Here, we used a teleost fish, the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, to investigate: (1) whether the regulation of thymus plasticity relies on resource trade-off with somatic growth and reproductive investment and (2) if the gonad-thymus interaction takes place during gonadal differentiation and development. Because gonadal development and, supposedly, thymus function in sea bass depend on environmental changes associated with the winter season, we evaluated thymus changes (foxn1 expression, and thymocyte and T cell content) in juvenile D. labrax raised for 1 year under either constant or fluctuating photoperiod and temperature. Importantly, in both conditions, intensive gonadal development following sex differentiation coincided with a halt of thymus growth, while somatic growth continued. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that gonadal development during prepuberty regulates thymus plasticity. This finding may provide an explanation for the initiation of the thymus involution related to ageing in mammals. Comparing fixed and variable environmental conditions, our work also demonstrates that the extent of the effects on the thymus, which are related to reproduction, depend on ecophysiological conditions, rather than being directly related to sexual maturity and sex hormone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Paiola
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Catarina Moreira
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Julie Hétru
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Aurélie Duflot
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Patricia I S Pinto
- Laboratory of Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, CCMAR - Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Giuseppe Scapigliati
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Thomas Knigge
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
| | - Tiphaine Monsinjon
- Normandy University, FR CNRS 3730 SCALE, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Environmental Stress and Aquatic Biomonitoring (SEBIO), University of Le Havre Normandy, 76600 Le Havre, France
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Guo Q, Wang Z, Dong Y, Cao J, Chen Y. Physiological crosstalk between the AC/PKA and PLC/PKC pathways modulates melatonin-mediated, monochromatic-light-induced proliferation of T-lymphocytes in chickens. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 369:555-565. [PMID: 28660299 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2644-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Previous study has demonstrated that melatonin plays a critical role in monochromatic-light-induced lymphocyte proliferation in response to T cell mitogen concanavalin A (ConA). However, its intracellular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we investigate the intracellular signal pathways of melatonin receptor-mediated T-lymphocyte proliferation in the spleens of chicks exposed to different light wavelengths. Results showed that green light enhanced T-lymphocyte proliferation by 2.46-6.83% and increased splenic mRNA and protein expressions of melatonin receptor subtypes (Mel1a, Mel1b and Mel1c) by 16.05-40.43% compared with the white, red and blue light groups. However, pinealectomy resulted in a decrease in T-lymphocyte proliferation and melatonin receptor expression with no statistically significant differences between the different light groups. In vitro experiments showed that the Mel1b selective antagonist 4P-PDOT, the Mel1c selective antagonist prazosin and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK-1) inhibitor PD98059 suppressed both melatonin-induced lymphocyte proliferation in response to ConA and melatonin- and ConA-stimulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activity but that the Mel1a/Mel1b non-selective antagonist luzindole did not. In addition, pretreatment with forskolin (FSK, the adenylyl cyclase activator), H89 (the PKA inhibitor), U73122 (the PLC inhibitor) or Go6983 (the broad spectrum PKC inhibitor) markedly attenuated melatonin- and ConA-stimulated T-lymphocyte proliferation and ERK1/2 activity. These results demonstrate that melatonin mediates green-light-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation via the Mel1b and Mel1c receptors by triggering crosstalk between the cAMP/PKA and PLC/PKC signal pathways followed by ERK1/2 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyun Guo
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.,Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing, 100076, China
| | - Zixu Wang
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yulan Dong
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yaoxing Chen
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Verburg-van Kemenade BML, Cohen N, Chadzinska M. Neuroendocrine-immune interaction: Evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that maintain allostasis in an ever-changing environment. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 66:2-23. [PMID: 27296493 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
It has now become accepted that the immune system and neuroendocrine system form an integrated part of our physiology. Immunological defense mechanisms act in concert with physiological processes like growth and reproduction, energy intake and metabolism, as well as neuronal development. Not only are psychological and environmental stressors communicated to the immune system, but also, vice versa, the immune response and adaptation to a current pathogen challenge are communicated to the entire body, including the brain, to evoke adaptive responses (e.g., fever, sickness behavior) that ensure allocation of energy to fight the pathogen. This phenomenon is evolutionarily conserved. Hence it is both interesting and important to consider the evolutionary history of this bi-directional neuroendocrine-immune communication to reveal phylogenetically ancient or relatively recently acquired mechanisms. Indeed, such considerations have already disclosed an extensive "common vocabulary" of information pathways as well as molecules and their receptors used by both the neuroendocrine and immune systems. This review focuses on the principal mechanisms of bi-directional communication and the evidence for evolutionary conservation of the important physiological pathways involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M Lidy Verburg-van Kemenade
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Dept. of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Nicholas Cohen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14620, USA
| | - Magdalena Chadzinska
- Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, PL30-387 Krakow, Poland
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Guo Q, Dong Y, Cao J, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Chen Y. Developmental changes of melatonin receptor expression in the spleen of the chicken, Gallus domesticus. Acta Histochem 2015; 117:559-65. [PMID: 26024931 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin plays an essential role in development and immunoregulation of the avian spleen through its receptors; however, the variations in the expression of the melatonin receptor subtypes in the developing avian spleen are still unclear. The objective of the present study was not only to investigate the distribution patterns and development changes of the expression of the melatonin receptor subtypes (Mel1a, Mel1b and Mel1c) in the chicken spleen but also to identify the correlation between the plasma melatonin concentration and the expression of the melatonin receptor subtypes. The immunohistochemical results indicated that Mel1a was mainly distributed in the red pulp and capillaries, Mel1b was predominantly distributed in the periarterial lymphatic sheath (PALS) and splenic nodule, and Mel1c was widely located in the red pulp, PALS and splenic nodule. From P0 to P21, the mRNA and protein expressions of Mel1a, Mel1b and Mel1c in the spleen were increased (P<0.05); however, a slight increase in the expression of the three melatonin receptor subtypes was observed after P21 (P>0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of Mel1b and Mel1c between P0 and P14 raised more quickly than Mel1a. The plasma melatonin concentration increased in an age-dependent manner in the chicken from P0 to P42 (P<0.05), and this increasing change was linear after P14 (P<0.05). The melatonin level in the plasma is strongly correlated with the protein expressions of Mel1a (r=0.938, P=0.005), Mel1b (r=0.912, P=0.011), and Mel1c (r=0.906, P=0.012) in the chicken spleen. These results suggest the existence of age-related and region-specific changes in the expression of the melatonin receptor subtypes within the spleen of the chicken, and this characteristic pattern may be involved in the development and functional maturation of the avian spleen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyun Guo
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yulan Dong
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zixu Wang
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ziqiang Zhang
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yaoxing Chen
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian, Beijing 100193, China.
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Paredes SD, Barriga C, Reiter RJ, Rodríguez AB. Assessment of the Potential Role of Tryptophan as the Precursor of Serotonin and Melatonin for the Aged Sleep-wake Cycle and Immune Function: Streptopelia Risoria as a Model. Int J Tryptophan Res 2009; 2:23-36. [PMID: 22084580 PMCID: PMC3195230 DOI: 10.4137/ijtr.s1129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present review we summarize the relationship between the amino acid, tryptophan, the neurotransmitter, serotonin, and the indole, melatonin, with the rhythms of sleep/wake and the immune response along with the possible connections between the alterations in these rhythms due to aging and the so-called “serotonin and melatonin deficiency state.” The decrease associated with aging of the brain and circulating levels of serotonin and melatonin seemingly contributes to the alterations of both the sleep/wake cycle and the immune response that typically accompany old age. The supplemental administration of tryptophan, e.g. the inclusion of tryptophan-enriched food in the diet, might help to remediate these age-related alterations due to its capacity of raise the serotonin and melatonin levels in the brain and blood. Herein, we also summarize a set of studies related to the potential role that tryptophan, and its derived product melatonin, may play in the restoration of the aged circadian rhythms of sleep/wake and immune response, taking the ringdove (Streptopeliarisoria) as a suitable model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio D Paredes
- Department of Physiology (Neuroimmunophysiology Research Group), Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
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Mosenson JA, McNulty JA. Characterization of lymphocyte subsets over a 24-hour period in Pineal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (PALT) in the chicken. BMC Immunol 2006; 7:1. [PMID: 16405726 PMCID: PMC1363356 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2172-7-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2005] [Accepted: 01/11/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homeostatic trafficking of lymphocytes in the brain has important relevance to the understanding of CNS disease processes. The pineal gland of the chicken contains large accumulations of lymphocytes that suggest an important role related to homeostatic circadian neuro-immune interactions. The purpose of this initial study was to characterize the lymphocyte subsets in the pineal gland and quantitate the distribution and frequency of lymphocyte phenotypes at two time points over the 24-hour light:dark cycle. RESULTS PALT comprised approximately 10% of the total pineal area. Image analysis of immunocytochemically stained sections showed that the majority of lymphocytes were CD3+ (80%) with the remaining 20% comprising B-cells and monocytes (Bu-1+), which tended to distribute along the periphery of the PALT. T-cell subsets in PALT included CD4+ (75-80%), CD8+ (20-25%), TCRalphabeta/Vbeta1+ (60%), and TCRgammadelta+ (15%). All of the T-cell phenotypes were commonly found within the interfollicular septa and follicles of the pineal gland. However, the ratios of CD8+/CD4+ and TCRgammadelta+/TCRalphabeta/Vbeta1+ within the pineal tissue were each 1:1, in contrast to the PALT where the ratios of CD8+/CD4+ and TCRgammadelta+/TCRalphabeta/Vbeta1+ each approximated 1:4. Bu-1+ cells were only rarely seen in the pineal interstitial spaces, but ramified Bu-1+ microglia/macrophages were common in the pineal follicles. Effects of the 24-h light:dark cycle on these lymphocyte-pineal interactions were suggested by an increase in the area of PALT, a decline in the density of TCRalphabeta/Vbeta1+ cells, and a decline in the area density of Bu-1+ microglia at the light:dark interphase (1900 h) compared to the dark:light interphase (0700 h). CONCLUSION The degree of lymphocyte infiltration in the pineal suggests novel mechanisms of neuro-immune interactions in this part of the brain. Our results further suggest that these interactions have a temporal component related to the 24-hour light:dark cycle and that CD8+ and TCRgammadelta+ T-cells are preferentially recruited to the pineal follicles. Pineal microglia/macrophages were common and represent an important candidate for mediating these lymphocyte-pineal interactions via secretion of cytokines and chemokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Mosenson
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - John A McNulty
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
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Carrillo-Vico A, Guerrero JM, Lardone PJ, Reiter RJ. A review of the multiple actions of melatonin on the immune system. Endocrine 2005; 27:189-200. [PMID: 16217132 DOI: 10.1385/endo:27:2:189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 440] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2005] [Accepted: 06/13/2005] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes the numerous observations published in recent years which have shown that one of the most significant of melatonin's pleiotropic effects is the regulation of the immune system. The overview summarizes the immune effects of pinealectomy and the association between rhythmic melatonin production and adjustments in the immune system as markers of melatonin's immunomodulatory actions. The effects of both in vivo and in vitromelatonin administration on non-specific, humoral, and cellular immune responses as well as on cellular proliferation and immune mediator production are presented. One of the main features that distinguishes melatonin from the classical hormones is its synthesis by a number of non-endocrine extrapineal organs, including the immune system. Herein, we summarize the presence of immune system-synthesized melatonin, its direct immunomodulatory effects on cytokine production, and its masking effects on exogenous melatonin action. The mechanisms of action of melatonin in the immune system are also discussed, focusing attention on the presence of membrane and nuclear receptors and the characterization of several physiological roles mediated by some receptor analogs in immune cells. The review focuses on melatonin's actions in several immune pathologies including infection, inflammation, and autoimmunity together with the relation between melatonin, immunity, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Carrillo-Vico
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Seville School of Medicine and Virgen Macarena Hospital, Seville, Spain
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Skwarlo-Sonta K, Majewski P, Markowska M, Oblap R, Olszanska B. Bidirectional communication between the pineal gland and the immune system. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2003; 81:342-9. [PMID: 12769226 DOI: 10.1139/y03-026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The pineal gland is a vertebrate neuroendocrine organ converting environmental photoperiodic information into a biochemical message (melatonin) that subsequently regulates the activity of numerous target tissues after its release into the bloodstream. A phylogenetically conserved feature is increased melatonin synthesis during darkness, even though there are differences between mammals and birds in the regulation of rhythmic pinealocyte function. Membrane-bound melatonin receptors are found in many peripheral organs, including lymphoid glands and immune cells, from which melatonin receptor genes have been characterized and cloned. The expression of melatonin receptor genes within the immune system shows species and organ specificity. The pineal gland, via the rhythmical synthesis and release of melatonin, influences the development and function of the immune system, although the postreceptor signal transduction system is poorly understood. Circulating messages produced by activated immune cells are reciprocally perceived by the pineal gland and provide feedback for the regulation of pineal function. The pineal gland and the immune system are, therefore, reciprocally linked by bidirectional communication.
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JANKOVIĆ BRANISLAVD. Neuroimmunomodulation From Phenomenology to Molecular Evidence a,b. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1994. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb23082.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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JANKOVIĆ BRANISLAVD. Neuroimmunomodulation From Phenomenology to Molecular Evidence, b. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1994. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1994.tb39641.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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