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Melatonin in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Author(s) -
MAESTRONI GEORGES J.M.,
SULLI ALBERTO,
PIZZORNI CARMEN,
VILLAGGIO BARBARA,
CUTOLO MAURIZIO
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04226.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , rheumatoid arthritis , stimulation , cytokine , medicine , receptor , endocrinology , pineal gland , synovial fluid , immunology , pathology , alternative medicine , osteoarthritis
A bstract : The pineal neurohormone melatonin is widely recognized as exerting important immunoenhancing effects that act on specific receptors in immunocompetent cells. This action results in stimulation of cytokine production in lymphocytes and macrophages. Here we report that the nocturnal plasma concentration of melatonin in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is higher than in healthy controls. Furthermore, melatonin is present in the synovial fluid of RA patients and synovial macrophages express a specific binding site. We suggest that melatonin may exert a disease‐promoting role in RA.