title: Melatonin restores immunodepression in aged and cyclophosphamide-treated 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, was able to enhance the antibody response to a T-dependent antigen. The enhancement of antibody response was 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 may be successfully used in the therapy of immunodepressive conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Caroleo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doria
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nisticò
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008550:Melatonin