Immuno-derived opioids as mediators of the immuno-enhancing and anti-stress action of melatonin.
The pineal neurohormone melatonin was shown to stimulate the release of opioid peptides from activated CD4+, T lymphocytes. These immuno-derived opioids or "lymphomorphins" crossreact with anti-beta-endorphin and anti-metenkephalin antisera, bind to opioid receptors in the thymus and are the mediators of the immunoenhancing and anti-stress action of endogenous and/or exogenous melatonin. These findings proved the existence of a novel immunoneuroendocrine physiological mechanism which may be related for the long range maintenance of the immune homeostasis in spite of the unavoidable stress and/or infectious events occurring during the span of life in a normal unprotected environment.
Laboratory for Experimental Pathology, Istituto Cantonale di Patologia, Locarno, Switzerland.
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D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007106:Immune Sera; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009270:Naloxone / Q000378:metabolism; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
D007106:Immune Sera; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009270:Naloxone; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008550:Melatonin