Immune-modulating effects of melatonin, N-acetylserotonin, and N-acetyldopamine

Melatonin and N-acetylserotonin (NAS) have antioxidant properties. In the present study, we examined whether melatonin, NAS, and N-acetyldopamine (NAD) have a modulatory effect on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) synthesis and superoxide production. Differentiated THP-1-derived human monocytes were coincubated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and rising concentrations of melatonin, NAS, or NAD. After 24 h, TNF-alpha was measured in cell supernatants. In addition, the production of superoxide by HL-60-derived human neutrophils upon stimulation with 4-beta-phorbol 12-beta-myristate 13-alpha-acetate (PMA) or N-formyl methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and increasing concentrations of melatonin, NAS, or NAD was determined. Incubation of THP-1-derived monocytes with increasing concentrations of melatonin, NAS, or NAD resulted in a marked decrease in LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha production, which was dose-dependent and on the order of 96-98%. Incubation of HL-60-derived neutrophils with increasing concentrations of melatonin, NAS, or NAD resulted in a modest decrease in PMA-stimulated superoxide production, which was dose-dependent. At the 100 microM dose, melatonin, NAS, or NAD resulted in a 14 +/- 4%, 30 +/- 1%, and 29 +/- 1% decrease in PMA-stimulated superoxide production, respectively. Coincubation of HL-60 cells with melatonin, NAS, or NAD also resulted in a modest dose-dependent decrease in fMLP-stimulated superoxide production. At the 100 microM dose, melatonin, NAS, or NAD resulted in a 13 +/- 1%, 14 +/- 1%, and 14 +/- 1% decrease in superoxide production, respectively. Our results indicate that the inhibitory effect of melatonin, NAS, or NAD on LPS-induced TNF-alpha production is robust and dose-dependent. These compounds are equally effective in attenuating the generation of oxidant radicals, although to a lesser degree.