| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 3
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| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol, Lab Chronopharmacol, Inst Biosci, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
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| Document type: | Review article |
| Source: | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES; v. 14, n. 6, p. 10979-10997, JUN 2013. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 59 |
| Abstract | |
Pineal gland melatonin is the darkness hormone, while extra-pineal melatonin produced by the gonads, gut, retina, and immune competent cells acts as a paracrine or autocrine mediator. The well-known immunomodulatory effect of melatonin is observed either as an endocrine, a paracrine or an autocrine response. In mammals, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor.-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappa B) blocks noradrenaline-induced melatonin synthesis in pinealocytes, which induces melatonin synthesis in macrophages. In addition, melatonin reduces NF-kappa B activation in pinealocytes and immune competent cells. Therefore, pathogen-or danger-associated molecular patterns transiently switch the synthesis of melatonin from pinealocytes to immune competent cells, and as the response progresses melatonin inhibition of NF-kappa B activity leads these cells to a more quiescent state. The opposite effect of NF-kappa B in pinealocytes and immune competent cells is due to different NF-kappa B dimers recruited in each phase of the defense response. This coordinated shift of the source of melatonin driven by NF-kappa B is called the immune-pineal axis. Finally, we discuss how this concept might be relevant to a better understanding of pathological conditions with impaired melatonin rhythms and hope it opens new horizons for the research of side effects of melatonin-based therapies. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 07/07871-6 - Imune-pineal Axis: injury shifts melatonin production from endocrine to paracrine |
| Grantee: | Regina Pekelmann Markus |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 11/50198-6 - Eixo imune-pineal: efeito da poluicao atmosferica. |
| Grantee: | Regina Pekelmann Markus |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |