Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Melatonin role in experimental arthritis.

Daniel P Cardinali1, Ana P García, Pilar Cano

  • 1Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. cardinal@mail.retina.ar

Current Drug Targets. Immune, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
|March 23, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Chronobiotic and cytoprotective activity of melatonin in the cardiovascular system. Doses matter.

Npj biological timing and sleep·2026
Same author

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Risk for Adverse Ocular Events in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy.

American journal of ophthalmology·2025
Same author

Rethinking Melatonin Dosing: Safety and Efficacy at Higher-than-Usual Levels in Aged Patients with Sleep Disturbances and Comorbidities.

Brain sciences·2025
Same author

Orbital necrotizing fasciitis due to <i>Prevotella baroniae</i> resulting in acute orbital compartment syndrome.

Orbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2025
Same author

Efficacy of a Neuroimmune Therapy Including Pineal Methoxyindoles, Angiotensin 1-7, and Endocannabinoids in Cancer, Autoimmune, and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Clinical interventions in aging·2025
Same author

Function of intramitochondrial melatonin and its association with Warburg metabolism.

Cellular signalling·2025

Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, regulates circadian rhythms and immune responses. Studies show melatonin influences rheumatoid arthritis by modulating immune and neuroendocrine functions, with low doses being therapeutic and high doses potentially exacerbating inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Immunology
  • Neuroendocrinology

Background:

  • The pineal gland hormone melatonin is crucial for regulating circadian rhythms and seasonal adaptations in vertebrates.
  • Melatonin, secreted nocturnally, acts as a mediator for the circadian clock, influencing various bodily functions including immune responses.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition where circadian organization of immune and neuroendocrine systems may be disrupted.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of melatonin in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using an animal model.
  • To examine the effects of melatonin on circadian rhythms of immune and neuroendocrine responses in arthritic rats.
  • To compare the impact of physiological and pharmacological melatonin doses on inflammation and immune responses in RA.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Animal studies utilized Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) to induce a model of rheumatoid arthritis in rats.
  • Circadian rhythms of immune and neuroendocrine parameters were assessed in preclinical and acute phases of FCA-induced arthritis.
  • The effects of melatonin treatment, pinealectomy, and varying melatonin doses on inflammatory and immune markers were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Arthritic rats exhibited altered 24-hour organization of immune and neuroendocrine responses, including disruptions in hormone rhythms.
  • Melatonin treatment prevented alterations in the diurnal rhythms of ACTH, prolactin, and luteinizing hormone in arthritic rats.
  • Low-dose melatonin restored normal inflammatory responses in pinealectomized rats, while high doses augmented inflammation and immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin plays a significant role in the circadian organization of immune and neuroendocrine systems relevant to rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Therapeutic potential of melatonin in RA may depend on dosage, with low doses showing anti-inflammatory effects and high doses potentially being detrimental.
  • Findings align with observations of elevated nocturnal melatonin in RA patients and melatonin's influence on cytokine production by synovial macrophages.