Regulation of T-cell-independent and T-cell-dependent antibody production by circadian rhythm and melatonin.

Melatonin is a hormone that has immunomodulatory activity and is believed to influence the production of antibodies in mammals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of suppressed melatonin synthesis on the antibody production. BALB/c mice were immunized with T-cell-dependent (TD) and T-cell-independent (TI) antigens and kept under (i) normal lighting, (ii) constant exposure to light, (iii) exposed to light and treated daily with melatonin. It was revealed that melatonin modulated TD and TI antibody production. Suppressed melatonin synthesis increased the amount of IgM, IgG1, IgG2b and IgG3 antibodies after immunization with TI antigen. The level of TD antibodies IgM, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 also increased, however, the antigen-specific antibodies of IgG1 isotype significantly decreased in mice exposed to light. Daily melatonin treatment brought the antibody level back to normal. The antibody concentration in the sera of mice kept at normal lighting was significantly higher when the immunizations were performed in the evening. The action of melatonin on B cells via MT2 receptor was shown in vitro and in vivo.