%0 Journal Article
%T Altered time structure of neuro-endocrine-immune system function in lung cancer patients
%A Gianluigi Mazzoccoli
%A Gianluigi Vendemiale
%A Angelo De Cata
%A Stefano Carughi
%A Roberto Tarquini
%J BMC Cancer
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2407-10-314
%X In ten healthy male volunteers (age range 45-66) and ten male patients with untreated non small cell lung cancer (age range 46-65) we measured melatonin, cortisol, TRH, TSH, FT4, GH, IGF-1 and IL-2 serum levels and percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations on blood samples collected every four hours for 24 hours. One-way ANOVA between the timepoints for each variable and each group was performed to look for a time-effect, the presence of circadian rhythmicity was evaluated, MESOR, amplitude and acrophase values, mean diurnal levels and mean nocturnal levels were compared.A clear circadian rhythm was validated in the control group for hormone serum level and for lymphocyte subsets variation. Melatonin, TRH, TSH, GH, CD3, CD4, HLA-DR, CD20 and CD25 expressing cells presented circadian rhythmicity with acrophase during the night. Cortisol, CD8, CD8bright, CD8dim, CD16, TcR¦Ä1 and ¦ÄTcS1 presented circadian rhythmicity with acrophase in the morning/at noon. FT4, IGF-1 and IL-2 variation did not show circadian rhythmicity. In lung cancer patients cortisol, TRH, TSH and GH serum level and all the lymphocyte subsubsets variation (except for CD4) showed loss of circadian rhythmicity. MESOR of cortisol, TRH, GH, IL-2 and CD16 was increased, whereas MESOR of TSH, IGF-1, CD8, CD8bright, TcR¦Ä1 and ¦ÄTcS1 was decreased in cancer patients. The melatonin/cortisol mean nocturnal level ratio was decreased in cancer patients.The altered secretion and loss of circadian rhythmicity of many studied factors observed in the subjects suffering from neoplastic disease may be expression of gradual alteration of the integrated function of the neuro-immune-endocrine systemThere are close relations between endocrine, nervous and immune system. Cortisol has a well recognized influence on immune function, inducing significant immunosuppression, characterized by the reduced cellular and humoral response of monocytes and B and T lymphocytes [1]. Melatonin, hormone secreted by the pineal gland, is able
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/10/314