Activation of human monocytes by the pineal hormone melatonin

To determine the effects of the pineal hormone melatonin on human monocytes, human monocytes were activated by different concentrations of melatonin. Above the activation threshold of 5 x 10(-11) M, melatonin was able to induce the cytotoxicity of human monocytes, the secretion of IL-1, and the production of reactive oxygen intermediates. Melatonin and LPS seemed to have a synergistic effect on human monocyte activation. Indeed, below their respective monocyte activation threshold (5 x 10(-11) M and 0.625 ng/ml), melatonin (10(-12) M) in association with LPS (0.2 ng/ml) was able to induce cytotoxicity, IL-1 secretion, and reactive oxygen intermediates production. Melatonin alone at 10(-12) M or LPS alone at 0.2 ng/ml did not activate monocytes. Furthermore, melatonin was able to prime the monocytes for a subsequent activation by LPS. When monocytes were activated by LPS (0.25 ng/ml) at the time that they were plated and then activated by melatonin (10(-12) M) 8 h later, no IL-1 secretion and no cytotoxicity were detected. However, when the cells were first activated by melatonin (10(-12) M), and then 8 h later by LPS (0.25 ng/ml), IL-1 secretion and monocyte cytotoxicity were observed. Above its monocyte activation threshold, melatonin induces both cell-associated IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta activities. Below this activation threshold, i.e., at 10(-12) M, melatonin does not induce the cell-associated IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta activities, but does induce the mRNA for both IL-1 (alpha and beta). It seems that melatonin activates monocytes through protein kinase C. These data suggest that melatonin activates monocytes and induces their cytotoxic properties, along with the IL-1 secretion.