Liebmann P M, Wölfler A, Felsner P, Hofer D, Schauenstein K
Institute of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Graz, Austria.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1997 Mar;112(3):203-11. doi: 10.1159/000237455.
In recent years, melatonin, i.e. the major endocrine product of the pineal gland, was investigated as to its possible regulatory role in the communication between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems. First indications that melatonin may be an endocrine immunomodulator came from early reports about antitumor effects in animals and humans. Since then evidence has accumulated suggesting that melatonin-as a well-preserved molecule during evolution-is indeed involved in the feedback between neuroendocrine and immune functions. At present we begin to discover molecular mechanisms, by which melatonin affects cellular functions in general, and from the variety of possible direct and indirect interactions it appears that melatonin may play a complex physiological role in neuroimmunomodulation. In this article we want to give a critical review of the numerous reports on melatonin influencing immune functions, and to discuss the possible different mechanisms of action, which were suggested recently.
近年来，褪黑素，即松果体的主要内分泌产物，其在神经内分泌系统与免疫系统之间的通讯中可能发挥的调节作用受到了研究。褪黑素可能是一种内分泌免疫调节剂的最初迹象来自于早期关于其对动物和人类抗肿瘤作用的报道。从那时起，越来越多的证据表明，褪黑素作为一种在进化过程中保存完好的分子，确实参与了神经内分泌和免疫功能之间的反馈。目前我们开始发现褪黑素影响细胞功能的分子机制，从各种可能的直接和间接相互作用来看，褪黑素可能在神经免疫调节中发挥复杂的生理作用。在本文中，我们想对众多关于褪黑素影响免疫功能的报道进行批判性综述，并讨论最近提出的可能的不同作用机制。
