Melatonin improves humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of male golden hamster following stress induced by dexamethasone

J Neuroimmunol. 2013 Jun 15;259(1-2):17-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2013.03.002. Epub 2013 Apr 10.

Abstract

Melatonin is known as an antistress and immunostimulator compound while glucocorticoids have immunosuppressive function. The mechanism of action of both the hormones on immune cells is still a question. We found that melatonin improved the effect of dexamethasone (synthetic glucocorticoid) induced immunosuppression of splenocytes and bone marrow GM-CFU along with increased production of serum IL-2, IgG and the receptor expression for melatonin and glucocorticoid in spleen that might be responsible for the proliferation of immune cells. Thus, seasonal variation in peripheral melatonin might be responsible for the improvement of immune status under different stress conditions experienced by the rodents for better survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Outbred Strains
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / immunology
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / pharmacology
  • Cricetinae
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells / drug effects
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells / immunology
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells / metabolism
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects*
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology
  • Immunity, Humoral / drug effects*
  • Immunity, Humoral / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Male
  • Melatonin / blood
  • Melatonin / immunology
  • Melatonin / pharmacology*
  • Mesocricetus
  • Neuroimmunomodulation / drug effects
  • Neuroimmunomodulation / immunology
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Stress, Physiological / drug effects
  • Stress, Physiological / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-2
  • Dexamethasone
  • Melatonin
  • Hydrocortisone