Inhibitory effect of melatonin on production of IFN gamma or TNF alpha in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of some blood donors

Melatonin, the main pineal hormone, has been shown to influence many biological functions, including the immune response and cancer growth. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of melatonin on the production of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in culture. Melatonin at physiological concentrations fails to induce production of IFN or TNF by PBMC in culture but causes a dose-related inhibition of production of both cytokines if the PBMC are stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin. This inhibitory effect occurs in only 22% of cases (melatonin-sensitive) but disappears when the cells are stored at 4 degrees C for 4 days. The effect of melatonin appears not to be mediated by opiates nor to be correlated with the age, sex, or blood group of donors, but seems to be influenced by the seasonal time of blood collection. These results provide further evidence for an interaction between melatonin and the immune system and suggest that the effect of melatonin on production of IFN and TNF may be mediated by various factors not yet fully understood.