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Melatonin, immune function and aging
V Srinivasan1, G J M Maestroni, D P Cardinali
1Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. saisrinivasaya@yahoo.com
Immunity & Ageing : I & A
|December 1, 2005
Summary
Aging impairs immune function, increasing disease risk. Melatonin, a hormone decreasing with age, shows potential to boost immunity in older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gerontology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Aging leads to immunosenescence, a decline in immune function.
- This decline correlates with increased susceptibility to cancer, infections, and degenerative diseases.
- Key immune cells like natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and T cells show reduced function with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the immunomodulatory effects of melatonin.
- To investigate melatonin's potential therapeutic role in enhancing immune function in aged and immunocompromised individuals.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on aging, immunosenescence, and melatonin's effects on immune cells and cytokines.
- Analysis of melatonin's proposed mechanisms of action on the immune system.
Main Results:
- Melatonin levels decrease with age.
- Melatonin stimulates the production of progenitor cells for granulocytes-macrophages, NK cells, and CD4+ T cells, while inhibiting CD8+ T cells.
- Melatonin enhances cytokine production from NK cells and T-helper lymphocytes.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin exhibits significant immunomodulatory effects, potentially counteracting age-related immune decline.
- Melatonin may hold therapeutic value for enhancing immune function in the elderly and immunocompromised populations.
- Further research into melatonin's mechanisms, including its interaction with the immune-opioid network, G protein-cAMP signaling, and glutathione levels, is warranted.