Characterization of the role of adrenal/pineal interaction in the immune-pineal axis context

• Grant number: 10/52687-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2011 - March 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Augusto Carlos Magno Fernandes
• Grantee: Pedro Augusto Carlos Magno Fernandes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The immune-pineal axis predicts, in one hand, that the melatonin produced by the pineal gland controls, in a time dependent manner, the immune response of tissues in the periphery of the body and, in the other hand, inflammatory modulators, such as cytokines and glucocorticoids, modulate the nocturnal pineal melatonin production. Glucocorticoids exert a dual effect on the pineal function, inhibiting or enhancing melatonin production depending on the experimental model. The molecular mechanisms involved in the inhibition of melatonin production by the pineal gland are unknown and, besides that, the relevance of the dual effects of corticosterone on the pineal hormonal production are not confirmed and understood during the development of acute or chronic inflammatory processes. The aim of this project is to characterize, molecularly and systemically, the interconnection between adrenal and pineal glands in the context of the immune-pineal axis. The molecular mechanisms involved with the inhibition of melatonin production will be addresses in cultured pineal glands and the actions of glucocorticoids on pineal gland in vivo will be determined during the development of an acute (systemic injection of LPS) or chronic (in a rheumatoid arthritis model) inflammatory process. The temporal analysis of the patterns of gene transcription, protein synthesis and melatonin production in the pineal gland will allow a better understanding of the actions of endogenous glucocorticoids on pineal function in different physiopathologic conditions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARKUS, REGINA P.; FERNANDES, PEDRO A.; KINKER, GABRIELA S.; CRUZ-MACHADO, SANSERAY DA SILVEIRA; MARCOLA, MARINA. Immune-pineal axis - acute inflammatory responses coordinate melatonin synthesis by pinealocytes and phagocytes. British Journal of Pharmacology, v. 175, n. 16, SI, p. 3239-3250, AUG 2018. (14/27287-0, 15/04557-5, 10/52687-1, 13/13691-1)

KINKER, GABRIELA S.; OBA-SHINJO, SUELI M.; CARVALHO-SOUSA, CLAUDIA E.; MUXEL, SANDRA M.; MARIE, SUELY K. N.; MARKUS, REGINA P.; FERNANDES, PEDRO A.. Melatonergic system-based two-gene index is prognostic in human gliomas. Journal of Pineal Research, v. 60, n. 1, p. 84-94, JAN 2016. (13/13691-1, 10/52687-1)

FERNANDES, PEDRO A.; TAMURA, EDUARDO K.; D'ARGENIO-GARCIA, LETICIA; MUXEL, SANDRA M.; CRUZ-MACHADO, SANSERAY DA SILVEIRA; MARCOLA, MARINA; CARVALHO-SOUSA, CLAUDIA E.; CECON, ERIKA; FERREIRA, ZULMA S.; MARKUS, REGINA P.. Dual Effect of Catecholamines and Corticosterone Crosstalk on Pineal Gland Melatonin Synthesis. Neuroendocrinology, v. 104, n. 2, p. 126-134, 2017. (13/13691-1, 10/52687-1)

KINKER, G. S.; OSTROWSKI, L. H.; OBA-SHINJO, S. M.; MUXEL, S. M.; MARIE, S. K. N.; MARKUS, R. P.; FERNANDES, P. A.. THE PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF THE MELATONERGIC SYSTEM-BASED ASMT:CYP1B1 INDEX IN SOLID TUMORS. BASIC & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, v. 121, p. 1-pg., 2017-08-01. (14/27287-0, 10/52687-1, 13/13691-1)

BARBOSA LIMA, LEILA ELIZA; MUXEL, SANDRA MARCIA; KINKER, GABRIELA S.; CARVALHO-SOUSA, CLAUDIA EMANUELE; CRUZ-MACHADO, SANSERAY DA SILVEIRA; MARKUS, REGINA P.; CARLOS MAGNO FERNANDES, PEDRO AUGUSTO. STAT1-NF kappa B crosstalk triggered by interferon gamma regulates noradrenaline-induced pineal hormonal production. Journal of Pineal Research, v. 67, n. 3, OCT 2019. (12/09622-1, 10/52687-1, 13/13691-1)

CORDOBA-MORENO, MARLINA O.; MENDES, MARIANA TRIVILIN; MARKUS, REGINA P.; FERNANDES, PEDRO AUGUSTO. Rat resistance to rheumatoid arthritis induction as a function of the early-phase adrenal-pineal crosstalk. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, v. 601, n. 3, p. 15-pg., 2022-12-08. (10/52687-1, 13/13691-1)

MARKUS, REGINA P.; FERNANDES, PEDRO A.; KINKER, GABRIELA S.; CRUZ-MACHADO, SANSERAY DA SILVEIRA; MARCOLA, MARINA. Immune-pineal axis - acute inflammatory responses coordinate melatonin synthesis by pinealocytes and phagocytes. British Journal of Pharmacology, v. 175, n. 16, p. 12-pg., 2018-08-01. (14/27287-0, 15/04557-5, 10/52687-1, 13/13691-1)