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Melatonin‐induced enhancement of antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity
Author(s) -
Giordano Mirta,
Palermo Marina S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1991.tb00827.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity , cytotoxicity , (+) naloxone , splenocyte , lytic cycle , immune system , antagonist , biology , chemistry , pharmacology , medicine , endocrinology , immunology , receptor , in vitro , biochemistry , virus
Antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is a lytic mechanism in which a specific antibody acts cooperatively with leukocytic effector cells to induce target cell lysis. In this paper, the effect of exogenous melatonin on ADCC was examined. It was found that two evening intravenous injections of melatonin (1 mg/kg b.w.) was sufficient to enhance the capacity of splenocytes to mediate ADCC. This augmented activity returned to normal levels by day 6. Moreover, the opioid antagonist, naloxone, was unable to inhibit the ADCC enhancement, suggesting that melatonin did not operate through a naloxone‐sensitive opiatergic mechanism. These results further support the modulatory action of melatonin on immune responses.