Τίτλος:
Melatonin and immunomodulation: Connections and potential clinical
applications
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
Melatonin is the main hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the human
brain. It has a strong impact on the sleep- wake cycle and is considered
a general modulator of the human circadian rhythm. Apart from these
well- established properties, melatonin possesses immunomodulatory,
antioxidative and antiinflammatory properties. The potential ability of
this hormone to act synergistically with several cytokines by enhancing
their antitumoral activity and dramatically decreasing their adverse
effects has placed melatonin among the new and promising agents in
cancer immunotherapy. The use of the neurohormone alone or in
combination with cytokines and traditional chemotherapeutic drugs is
currently under vigorous investigation. Experimental and clinical trials
have already depicted some of the immunomodulatory and antitumor effects
of melatonin, delineating the need for further research in this field.
Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Συγγραφείς:
Giannoulia-Karantana, Aglaia
Vlachou, Antonia
Polychronopoulou,
Sophia
Papassotiriou, Ioannis
Chrousos, George P.
Περιοδικό:
Neuroimmunomodulation
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
melatonin; cancer; immunotherapy; immunomodulation; cytokines
