Melatonin and the Immune System

Abstract

In recent years, melatonin, i.e. the major endocrine product of the pineal gland, was investigated as to its possible regulatory role in the communication between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems. First indications that melatonin may be an endocrine immunomodulator came from early reports about antitumor effects in animals and humans. Since then evidence has accumulated suggesting that melatonin – as a well-preserved molecule during evolution – is indeed involved in the feedback between neuroendocrine and immune functions. At present we begin to discover molecular mechanisms, by which melatonin affects cellular functions in general, and from the variety of possible direct and indirect interactions it appears that melatonin may play a complex physiological role in neuroimmunomodulation. In this article we want to give a critical review of the numerous reports on melatonin influencing immune functions, and to discuss the possible different mechanisms of action, which were suggested recently.

Dietary melatonin selectively reverses age-related changes in cortical cytokine mRNA levels, and their responses to an inflammatory stimulus

“…There is evidence that melatonin can enhance immune processes in cells derived from aged animals [24,55]. Chronic melatonin administration led to an increased IL-1 and TNF-␣ production and enhanced T-cell-promoted antigen presentation by splenic macrophages [32].…”

Synthesis, Characterization, Molecular Docking, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities of Di(indolyl)thiazolylpyrazoles

“…Indole and their derivatives constitute an important class of heterocyclic compounds with a varied biological activities such as antidepressant [1], antihypertensive [2], antimicrobial [3,4], antiinflammatory [5,6], anticancer [7], antioxidant [8], antirhematoidal and anti-HIV [9,10] and also play vital role in the immune system [11,12]. Indole nucleus is present in many natural products, and widely used as a scaffold in agricultural and medicinal chemistry.…”

“…For example, indole-3-acetic acid, a key plant growth hormone [13]; tryptophan, an essential amino acid; indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [14]; reserpine, an antipsychotic and antihypertensive drug [15], and vinblastine, an antimicrotubule drug [16]. In fact some indole derivatives such as serotmin, melatonin and indoleamines are reported as the most potent scavenger of free radicals [17][18][19]. Besides medicinal properties of pyrazole containing compounds include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory [20], antimicrobial, analgesic [21], anticancer [22], anticonvulsant and antidepressant [23].…”

Synthesis of 1-Aryl-6,6-Dimethyl-2-Phenyl-6,7-Dihydro-1h-Indol-4(5h)-Ones by Two Steps, in a Three-Component Reaction

“…1,2 Among the various classes of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, indoles have many biological and pharmacological activities, such as GABA receptor ligands, 3 antipsychotic, 4 anticancer, 5 antioxidant, 6 antiproliferative agents, 7 antirheumatoidal and anti-HIV, 8,9 and as soluble guanylatecyclase inhibitors. 10,11 Therefore, the synthesis and selective functionalization of indoles 12-14 and using indoles as starting materials for the synthesis of a series of alkaloids, pharmaceuticals and perfumes 15 have been the focus of researchers.…”