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Melatonin: Antioxidant and modulatory properties in age‐related changes during Trypanosoma cruzi infection
Author(s) -
Brazão Vânia,
Santello Fabricia H.,
Colato Rafaela P.,
Mazotti Tamires T.,
Tazinafo Lucas F.,
Toldo Míriam Paula A.,
Vale Gabriel T.,
Tirapelli Carlos R.,
Prado José C.
Publication year - 2017
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/jpi.12409
Subject(s) - melatonin , immune system , antioxidant , endocrinology , glutathione , biology , medicine , immunology , antigen , lipid peroxidation , cd8 , superoxide dismutase , oxidative stress , biochemistry , enzyme
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on selected biomarkers of innate and humoral immune response as well as the antioxidant/oxidant status (superoxide dismutase— SOD and reduced glutathione levels ( GSH ) to understand whether age‐related changes would influence the development of acute Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection. Young‐ (5 weeks) and middle‐aged (18 months) Wistar rats were orally treated with melatonin (gavage) (05 mg/kg/day), 9 days after infection. A significant increase in both SOD activity and GSH levels was found in plasma from all middle‐aged melatonin‐treated animals. Melatonin triggered enhanced expression of major histocompatibility class II ( MHC ‐ II ) antigens on antigen‐presenting cell ( APC ) and peritoneal macrophages in all treated animals. High levels of CD 4 + CD 28‐negative T cells (* P <.05) were detected in middle‐aged control animals. Melatonin induced a significant reduction (*** P <.001) in CD 28 ‐ negative in CD 4 + and CD 8 + T cells in middle‐aged control animals. Contrarily, the same group displayed upregulated CD 4 + CD 28 + T and CD 8 + CD 28 + T cells. Melatonin also triggered an upregulation of CD 80 and CD 86 expression in all young‐treated groups. Significant percentages of B and spleen dendritic cells in middle‐aged infected and treated animals were observed. Our data reveal new features of melatonin action in inhibiting membrane lipid peroxidation, through the reduction in 8‐isoprostane, upregulating the antioxidant defenses and triggering an effective balance in the antioxidant/oxidant status during acute infection. The ability of melatonin to counteract the immune alterations induced by aging added further support to its use as a potential therapeutic target not only for T. cruzi infection but also for other immunocompromised states.