Modulação de fagócitos pela melatonina

Abstract

Microemulsion is a solution made by joining two unmixed substances, followed by the addition of an emulsifying agent. It is widely used in cosmetics, topical use and also in pharmaceutical preparations. Melatonin, known as the sleep regulatory hormone, is synthesized in the pineal gland and is produced in greater quantities at night. It has the antioxidant capacity that has the purpose of acting on free radicals, participating in the process of phagocytosis generated by cells, thus reducing cell aging. The human peripheral blood phagocytes are responsible for the protection against infectious agents and are also associated with aging processes. Mononuclear and polymorphonuclear phagocytes are inserted in this group, being the main monocytes and neutrophils. The present work aimed to evaluate phagocyte modulation with the use of melatonin incorporated into a microemulsion system. The rheological characterization of the microemulsion system was used. Subsequently, the cell viability index and phagocytosis were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and SOD (superoxide dismutase enzyme) activity by the NBT (nitrotetrazolium blue) method. It was concluded that melatonin incorporated to microemulsion had higher immunomodulation than when compared to stimulation with melatonin alone. And the enzyme superoxide dismutase was potentiated in the presence of melatonin, which corroborates its antioxidant effect.