MELATONIN AS IMMUNOMODULATOR IN IMMUNODEFICIENT MICE

Melatonin, the main hormone of the pineal gland, when chronically injected into young mice or mice immunodepressed by aging or by cyclophosphamide treatment, is able to enhance the antibody response to a T-dependent antigen. The enhancement of the antibody response is associated with increased induction of T helper cell activity and IL-2 production, as evidenced in mice immunodepressed by aging or by cyclophosphamide treatment. These observations suggest that melatonin treatment may be successfully used in the therapy of immunodepressive conditions.