title: Melatonin-induced enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
abstract: Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is a lytic mechanism in which a specific antibody acts cooperatively with leukocytic effector cells to induce target cell lysis. In this paper, the effect of exogenous melatonin on ADCC was examined. It was found that two evening intravenous injections of melatonin (1 mg/kg b.w.) was sufficient to enhance the capacity of splenocytes to mediate ADCC. This augmented activity returned to normal levels by day 6. Moreover, the opioid antagonist, naloxone, was unable to inhibit the ADCC enhancement, suggesting that melatonin did not operate through a naloxone-sensitive opiatergic mechanism. These results further support the modulatory action of melatonin on immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas (IIHEMA), Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Palermo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000187:drug effects*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D008550:Melatonin