Melatonin activates Th1 lymphocytes by increasing IL-12 production.
Melatonin could act on immune system by regulating cytokine production of immunocompetent cells. The hormone enhances IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-6 production by cultured human mononuclear cells. As enhancement of IL-6 production is related to monocyte activation by melatonin, the hormone acts on human lymphoid cells causing a Th1-type response. This paper shows that melatonin seems to promote a Th1-response by increasing IL-12 production. The hormone enhances IL-12 production by cultured monocytes under suboptimal stimulation in a dose-dependent way. The effect of the hormone increases when PBMCs are incubated with melatonin before monocyte isolation. Enhanced IL-12 production by melatonin can also be shown in cultured human mononuclear cells.
García-Mauriño
S
S
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Seville School of Medicine and Virgen Macarena Hospital, Spain.
Pozo
D
D
Carrillo-Vico
A
A
Calvo
J R
JR
Guerrero
J M
JM
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008550:Melatonin