title: Melatonin as immunomodulator in immunodeficient mice.
abstract: Melatonin, the main hormone of the pineal gland, when chronically injected into young mice or mice immunodepressed by aging or by cyclophosphamide treatment, is able to enhance the antibody response to a T-dependent antigen. The enhancement of the antibody response is associated with increased induction of T helper cell activity and IL-2 production, as evidenced in mice immunodepressed by aging or by cyclophosphamide treatment. These observations suggest that melatonin treatment may be successfully used in the therapy of immunodepressive conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physics and Biomedical Sciences, ENEA C.R.E. Casaccia, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Caroleo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frasca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nisticó
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doria
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008550:Melatonin