Evaluation of gene expression in human lymphocytes activated in the presence of melatonin.
The effect of melatonin on the expression of genes previously correlated to T lymphocyte activation (HLA-DRB, thymosin beta 10 (beta-Tim)) and to Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK) activity (beta-Tim, Tumour Rejection Antigen (TRA 1), nRap 2) was investigated in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human lymphocyte cultures. The aim was to find an enhancing effect of this substance on anti-tumoral immune defences as suggested by studies on tumour progression in mice and clinical immunotherapy trials in humans. mRNA obtained from melatonin-treated and -untreated PHA-stimulated lymphocytes was retrotranscribed and amplified by RT-PCR using primers based on the sequences of the selected genes. The results suggest that melatonin does not increase T and LAK cell responses: in fact, a reduction in the transcription of all the considered genes was observed. These data are correlated with the antiproliferative effect of melatonin observed in in vitro treated lymphocytes.
Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy. Capelli@ipvgen.unipv.it
Enrica
E
Capelli
Ilaria
I
Campo
Simona
S
Panelli
Giuseppe
G
Damiani
Maria Grazia Santagostino
MG
Barbone
Adele
A
Lucchelli
Mariaclara
M
Cuccia
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008550:Melatonin