title: Melatonin and immunomodulation: connections and potential clinical applications.
abstract: Melatonin is the main hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the human brain. It has a strong impact on the sleep-wake cycle and is considered a general modulator of the human circadian rhythm. Apart from these well-established properties, melatonin possesses immunomodulatory, antioxidative and antiinflammatory properties. The potential ability of this hormone to act synergistically with several cytokines by enhancing their antitumoral activity and dramatically decreasing their adverse effects has placed melatonin among the new and promising agents in cancer immunotherapy. The use of the neurohormone alone or in combination with cytokines and traditional chemotherapeutic drugs is currently under vigorous investigation. Experimental and clinical trials have already depicted some of the immunomodulatory and antitumor effects of melatonin, delineating the need for further research in this field.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Aglaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannoulia-Karantana
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlachou
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polychronopoulou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin