Back to Search
Start Over
Melatonin suppresses nitric oxide production in glial cultures by pro-inflammatory cytokines through p38 MAPK inhibition.
- Source :
-
Free Radical Research . Feb2014, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p119-128. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Melatonin has been shown to down-regulate inflammatory responses and provide neuroprotection. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of melatonin are poorly understood. In the present work, we studied the modulatory effect of melatonin against pro-inflammatory cytokines in glial cell cultures. Treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines mainly tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1-beta, and interferon-gamma induces an increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production. Pre-treatment with melatonin produced an inhibitory effect on iNOS expression and NO production. The biochemical studies revealed that cytokine treatment favors the activation of several pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), STAT1, and STAT3; however, the anti-inflammatory effect of melatonin was accompanied only by a decrease in p38 MAPK activity. Likewise, SB203580 a p38 kinase inhibitor inhibits NO production. These data indicate that the anti-inflammatory action of melatonin in glial cells after stimulation with pro-inflammatory cytokines may be in part, attributable to p38 inhibition which down-regulates iNOS expression and NO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10715762
- Volume :
- 48
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Free Radical Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 92764500
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3109/10715762.2013.845295