LEADER
Rheumatoid arthritis
The melatonin-cytokine connection in rheumatoid arthritis
1 Research Laboratory and Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV,6, 16132 Genova, Italy
2 Centre for Experimental Pathology, Cantonal Institute of Pathology, Via In Selva 24, PO Box, 6601 Locarno, Switzerland
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor M Cutolo
mcutolo@unige.it
Melatonin up regulates cytokine production and immune function
Keywords: circadian rhythms; cortisol; cytokines; melatonin; rheumatoid arthritis
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
A substance from pineal gland extracts, which lightens the skin melanocytes of amphibians and fishes, was isolated in 1958 and called melatonin (MLT, N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine).1 In both diurnal and nocturnal species, the absence of light at night stimulates MLT biosynthesis. Electrical signals originating from the retina reach the suprachiasmatic nuclei which, in turn, send inputs via the paraventricular nuclei to the spinal cord and then to the superior cervical ganglia. The fibres terminate at the pinealocytes.2 Absence of light results in increased norepinephrine release and activation of 
1 and ß-adrenergic receptors on the pinealocytes. This triggers a series of intracellular responses, resulting in activation of the enzymes N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.87) and hydroxyindole-O-methyl transferase (EC 2.1.1.4), which convert serotonin into MLT.2 The circadian nocturnal release of MLT has a profound influence on the internal environment of the organism, with diverse physiological effects. The main
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This article has been cited by other articles:
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Cutolo, M., Straub, R. H, Buttgereit, F.
(2008). Circadian rhythms of nocturnal hormones in rheumatoid arthritis: translation from bench to bedside. Ann Rheum Dis
67: 905-908
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