Human Pineal Gland Research Articles

Microglia and Macrophages in Human Pineal Gland

Background. The causal role of the inflammatory process in the central nervous system (CNS) in the pathogenesis of most nervous and mental diseases, as well as in aging, has been established in the last two decades. The most important immune cells in the CNS are microglial cells and macrophages. To date, microglia and macrophages have been studied in various areas of the central nervous system, but have not been studied in the human pineal gland. The purpose of the study was to investigate the morphological features, types and localization of human pineal gland microglial cells using immunohistochemistry. Material and methods. The work was carried out on samples of the human brain pineal gland aged from 16 to 61 years (n=7). An immunohistochemical reaction was performed on sections of the pineal gland using antibodies to Iba-1 and TMEM119, the selective markers of microgliocytes. The frequency of occurrence of immunostained cells was analyzed using statistical methods. Results. It has been established that the majority of phagocytic cells of the structurally normal human pineal gland are not macrophages, but microgliocytes, which are represented by both resting and activated forms. Microglia in the human pineal gland are typically localized in connective tissue trabeculae, both at and away from blood vessels. Microgliocytes are also found in the parenchyma of the pineal gland among the hormone-synthesizing pinealocytes. There was a statistically significant decrease in the number of Iba-1- and especially TMEM119-immunoreactive cells with aging. Conclusion. The present study is the first to examine microglial cells and macrophages in the human pineal gland. The prevalence of microglial cells over macrophages has been established. The morphological features and localization of the identified types of microglial cells indicate their participation primarily in immune defense, and also, probably, in the regulation of pinealocyte functions. In addition, data have been obtained indicating the participation of microglial cells in increasing inflammation in the human pineal gland during aging.

“Immunohistochemical analysis of Sigma-1 receptor (σ-1R) expression in human pineal gland in relation to different causes of death”

Sigma-1 receptor (σ-1R) modulates cellular signaling pathways, probably acting as a ligand operated chaperone. When activated, the receptor translocates from the interface mitochondrion associated membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell membrane. σ-1R was demonstrated in some brain regions, including the pineal gland, and was proposed to be involved in several cerebral processes, including neuroprotective responses against homeostasis alterations. On this basis, the immunohistochemical expression of σ-1R in human pineal glands was evaluated, with particular regard to the different causes of death. Thirty-eight pineal glands obtained from forensic autopsies were divided into five groups according to the cause of death: sudden death, drowning, fire fatality, hanging, and hemorrhagic shock, and examined with hematoxylin-eosin stain and immunohistochemistry for σ-1R. Both pinealocytes and perivascular spaces were evaluated. The pineal glands from sudden death were only mildly positive for σ-1R, while a more evident immunopositivity was observed in hanging, fire fatality, hemorrhagic shock, and drowning. These results were confirmed in a two-by-two comparison between the sudden death group and other groups. Our data demonstrate for the first time with immunohistochemical techniques the presence of σ-1R expression in the human pineal gland and propose a direct correlation between σ-1R expression and duration of the death process, in particular when hypoxic conditions and/or excessive psychological stress are present.

Melatonin alleviates pyroptosis by regulating the SIRT3/FOXO3α/ROS axis and interacting with apoptosis in Atherosclerosis progression

BackgroundAtherosclerosis (AS), a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), is steadily rising with the aging of the global population. Pyroptosis and apoptosis, both caspase-mediated cell death mechanisms, play an essential role in the occurrence and progression of AS. The human pineal gland primarily produces melatonin (MT), an indoleamine hormone with powerful anti-oxidative, anti-pyroptotic, and anti-apoptotic properties. This study examined MT’s anti-oxidative stress and anti-pyroptotic effects on human THP-1 macrophages treated with nicotine.MethodsIn vitro, THP-1 macrophages were induced by 1 µM nicotine to form a pyroptosis model and performed 30 mM MT for treatment. In vivo, ApoE-/- mice were administered 0.1 mg/mL nicotine solution as drinking water, and 1 mg/mL MT solution was intragastric administrated at 10 mg/kg/day. The changes in pyroptosis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were detected.ResultsMT downregulated pyroptosis, whose changes were paralleled by a reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reversal of sirtuin3 (SIRT3), and Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3α) upregulation. MT also inhibited apoptosis, mainly caused by the interaction of caspase-1 and caspase-3 proteins. Vivo studies confirmed that nicotine could accelerate plaque formation. Moreover, mice treated with MT showed a reduction in AS lesion area.ConclusionsMT alleviates pyroptosis by regulating the SIRT3/FOXO3α/ROS axis and interacting with apoptosis. Importantly, our understanding of the inhibitory pathways for macrophage pyroptosis will allow us to identify other novel therapeutic targets that will help treat, prevent, and reduce AS-associated mortality.

Distribution of connexin 43 in the human pineal gland

BACKGROUND: Connexin 43 (Cx43) is one of the important gap junction proteins of astrocytes and is necessary for intercellular communication. To date, data on gap junctions in the human pineal gland are limited, and Cx43 has not been examined in this organ.
 AIM: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of gap junctions in the human pineal gland by simultaneous detection of Cx43 and the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).
 METHODS: Fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of the human pineal gland (n=4) were used. The study participants were between 19 and 34 years old. For the simultaneous detection of Cx43 and GFAP in the human pineal gland, immunohistochemistry was used, followed by analysis using an LSM 800 confocal laser scanning microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany).
 RESULTS: For the first time, our immunohistochemical study showed the presence of Cx43 in the human pineal gland. The confocal microscopy with double immunolabeling of Cx43 and GFAP visualized the individual clusters of Cx43-containing structures that were undistinguishable under transmitted light microscopy and showed the localization of the Cx43 on the membrane of astrocytes.
 CONCLUSION: The proposed method makes it possible to determine Cx43-positive structures in human pineal tissue, which are localized mostly in the area of astrocyte processes.

Immunohistochemical study of human pineal vessels

BACKGROUND: The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ located in the epithalamic area of the brain. By using the melatonin, a pineal hormone, the pineal gland synchronizes the work of the internal physiological systems of the body with the circadian light-darkness cycle. Melatonin is synthesized in pinealocytes, the endocrine cells of the pineal gland, and secreted into the bloodstream. However, the structural features of the blood vessels in the pineal gland are still not well understood.
 AIM: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the intraorgan localization and immunohistochemical pattern of the blood vessels of the pineal gland of human, which had not been previously studied.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the research, immunohistochemistry methods were applied using two selective markers of blood vessels, the antibodies to von Willebrand factor and type IV collagen. Von Willebrand factor is expressed selectively in endothelial cells that form blood vessels, including small capillaries, while type IV collagen is inherent to the basement membrane that separates the vascular endothelium from the underlying tissue.
 RESULTS: The immunohistochemical reaction to both markers clearly visualize the blood vessels of the human pineal gland, which in both cases were observed mainly in the connective tissue septa (trabeculae), or, in the absence of a regular lobular structure, in the connective tissue layers. In lobules surrounded by connective tissue trabeculae and containing a large number of densely packed pinealocytes, von Willebrand factor- and type IV collagen-immunoreactive structures were very rare, and in many cases were not observed. The found phenomenon of distribution of blood vessels in the human pineal gland is described for the first time.
 CONCLUSIONS: Since blood vessel markers with well-proven selectivity were used, the results obtained with their usage can be considered reliable; this gives grounds with a high degree of probability to assert that the majority of pinealocytes in the human pineal gland do not have direct contact with blood vessels and, accordingly, cannot secrete melatonin directly into the bloodstream. On the basis of the results obtained, a hypothesis is proposed that the hormone secretion from pinealocytes into blood vessels is mediated by astroglial cells.

GFAP- and Vimentin-Immunopositive Structures in Human Pineal Gland

GFAP- and Vimentin-Immunopositive Structures in Human Pineal Gland

Study of the Histomorphology of Human Pineal Gland

Introduction: Histologically, the pineal gland shows pinealocytes, glial cells, and sometimes calcific concretions. Age-related changes in these three components have been reported by various workers. However, a statistically significant difference between the two sexes has not been found. This study was conducted to find out morphological and histological changes in human pineal gland in relation to advancing age and in relation to gender. Methodology: Forty pineal glands were taken for the study. The pineal glands were fixed in 10% formol saline and processed. Slides for microanatomical study were prepared and observed under microscope. Results: The size of the pinealocytes, size of their nuclei, and number of glial cells increased with age, but it was not significant. The number of pinealocytes decreased with age (P = 0.02). The size of the calcific concretions increased with age (P = 0.02). The difference in size of pinealocytes, nuclei of the pinealocytes, and the number of pinealocytes between genders was not significant. The difference in the number of glial cells between genders was significant (P = 0.03). The difference in the number of concentric lamellated type of calcific concretions between genders was significant (P = 0.03). Conclusion: A histological study of pineal gland in human is an area of interest for anatomists, radiologists, and neurologists. This study has paved a way for us for further research using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

Human Pineal Gland Involutionary Process: New Findings.

In this work, we report preliminary results about the involution of the human pineal gland involution. The detailed analysis of pineal structure was done on autopsy material of 77 persons in age 27-96 using x-ray phase-contrast tomography, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Our study suggests that the pineal gland alteration in older adults may be more profound than has been reported to date. We identified and described a new form of pineal gland involution that eventually led to the total degradation of the pineal gland. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report on the complete replacement of pineal gland parenchyma with connective tissue in older adults.

GFAP- and Vimentin-Containing Stuctures in Human Pineal Gland

The pineal gland plays a key role in coordinating various bodily functions. The main part of the pineal cells are pinealocytes, and the second largest are glial cells, the data on which are contradictory. The purpose of this study is to investigate the astroglial cells in the human pineal gland using immunohistochemistry with transmitted light microscopy and, for the first time, with confocal laser microscopy. Astrocytes were labeled with antibodies to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin. A large number of GFAP- and vimentin-expressing structures were revealed in the human pineal gland. GFAP was localized in polygonal cells located among pinealocytes in lobules, while vimentin was localized in blood vessels and rounded cells localized mainly in trabeculae and partially in pineal lobules. Both GFAP- and vimentin-immunoreactive cells gave rise to several long branching processes that penetrated the entire pineal parenchyma, forming a dense network, and ended on the surface of the pineal gland, blood vessels, and around calcifications. GFAP-immunoreactive fibers tightly entwined all calcifications (single and in groups), while vimentin-immunopositive processes surrounded only a part of them. The study of consecutive sections of the pineal gland showed very rare (if any) coincidence of the localization of GFAP and vimentin in pineal cells. The obtained data suggest that there are two separate populations of astrocyte-like cells in the human pineal gland, that express GFAP or vimentin and differ not only cytochemically, but also in morphological features and localization of cell bodies, as well as in the distribution of processes.

Retinoic Acid Signalling in the Pineal Gland Is Conserved across Mammalian Species and Its Transcriptional Activity Is Inhibited by Melatonin.

The pineal gland is integral to the circadian timing system due to its role in nightly melatonin production. Retinoic acid (RA) is a potent regulator of gene transcription and has previously been found to exhibit diurnal changes in synthesis and signalling in the rat pineal gland. This study investigated the potential for the interaction of these two systems. PCR was used to study gene expression in mouse and human pineal glands, ex-vivo organotypic cultured rat pineal gland and cell lines. The mouse and human pineal glands were both found to express the necessary components required for RA signalling. RA influences the circadian clock in the brain, therefore the short-term effect of RA on clock gene expression was determined in ex vivo rat pineal glands but was not found to rapidly regulate Per1, Per2, Bmal1, or Cry1. The interaction between RA and melatonin was also investigated and, unexpectedly, melatonin was found to suppress the induction of gene transcription by RA. This study demonstrates that pineal expression of the RA signalling system is conserved across mammalian species. There is no short-term regulation of the circadian clock but an inhibitory effect of melatonin on RA transcriptional activity was demonstrated, suggesting that there may be functional cross-talk between these systems.

Micromorphology of pineal gland calcification in age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

The formation of concrements in human pineal gland (PG) is a physiological process and, according to many researchers, is associated with the involution of PG structures. The majority of scientific publications concern progressive calcification of PG, leaving out studies on the destruction of already formed calcified concrements. Our study fills the gap in knowledge about calcified zones destruction in PG in normal aging and neuropathological conditions, which has not been addressed until now. Our objective is to gain insight into human PG tissue impairment in both normal aging and neurodegenerative conditions. X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) allowed us to study PG tissue degeneration at high spatial resolution and, for the first time, to examine the damaged PG concrements in detail. Our research finding could potentially enhance the understanding of the PG involvement in the process of aging as well as in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The research was carried out on human PG autopsy material in normal aging, VD, and AD conditions. Laboratory-based micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to collect and evaluate samples of native, uncut, and unstained PG with different degrees of pineal calcification. The detailed high-resolution 3D images of the selected PGs were produced using synchrotron-based XPCT. Histology and immunohistochemistry of soft PG tissue confirmed XPCT results. We performed via micro-CT the evaluation of the morphometric parameters of PG such as total sample volume, calcified concrements volume, and percentage of concrements in the total volume of the sample. XPCT imaging revealed high-resolution details of age-related PG alteration. In particular, we noted signs of moderate degradation of concrements in some PGs from elderly donors. In addition, our analysis revealed noticeable degenerative change in both concrements and soft tissue of PGs with neuropathology. In particular, we observed a hollow core and separated layers as well as deep ragged cracks in PG concrements of AD and VD samples. In parenchyma of some samples, we detected wide pinealocyte-free fluid-filled areas adjacent to the calcified zones. The present work provides the basis for future scientific research focused on the dynamic nature of PG calcium deposits and PG soft tissue in normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

A morphological study of human pineal gland in post-mortem cases

The current study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Osmania Medical College, Koti, Hyderabad over a period of 1year. A total of 30 human pineal glands (16-males,11-females,3 excluded for post-mortem autolysis) from those bodies between the age groups of 1-80years were collected during the post-mortem study at the Mortuary of Osmania General Hospital, Koti, Hyderabad and were included in the study. Morphological parameters like weight and transverse diameter at the maximum width of the pineal glands were measured and then the pineal glands were processed for light microscopy. 4-5micron thick sections were cut and stained with H&E and Masson Trichrome for highlighting the connective tissue pattern of the pineal gland. Under light microscope, the capsular delineation, pattern of septation and lobulation, calcification, intracellular brown pigment, intraparenchymal inflammatory cells, fibrosis, gliosis and cystic changes in the pineal glands were observed in relation to age and gender.

Digital histological morphometry of the human pineal gland in a postmortem study, with endocrine and neurological clinical implications.

The pineal gland is a small-sized, photo neuroendocrine organ in the midline of the brain that synthesises and secretes melatonin and serotonin. Chords and islands of pinealocytes constitute the secretory parenchyma, while glial tissue and calcifications represent degenerative changes. This study examined human postmortem pineal glands to microscopically assess morphological changes possibly associated with clinical data, by using digital techniques. A retrospective autopsy study has been performed on 72 paediatric and adult autopsy cases. The glands have been processed for histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining with synaptophysin (SYN), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and neurofilament (NF). Slides were digitally scanned. Morphometric data were obtained using CaseViewer and ImageJ. The comorbidities used for correlation with morphometric data were obesity, type 2 diabetes, adrenal gland adenoma, goitre, chronic pancreatitis, arterial hypertension, and mixed dementia. Thirty-three females and 39 males were included in the study. Increased secretory parenchyma was found in patients with chronic pancreatitis, arterial hypertension, and adrenal gland adenoma. Reduced activity was found in patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, advanced pineal calcification, mixed dementia, and old age. There were no changes associated with goitre, cachexia, or Willis's polygon atherosclerosis. No significant differences between gender were found. The activity of the pineal gland can be assessed by quantitative immunohistochemistry of neuroendocrine and structural pinealocyte markers and observation of glial tissue and calcifications. There is a need for further research to evaluate the clinical impact of these morphological changes on the neuroendocrine systems, with clinical implications in endocrinology, neurology, and even psychiatry. Digital techniques offer a more exact analysis of histological data.

Techniques for digital histological morphometry of the pineal gland

IntroductionThe pineal gland is a small photo-neuro-endocrine organ. This study used human post-mortem pineal glands to microscopically assess immunohistochemical marker intensity and percentage of positivity using known and novel digital techniques. Materials and methodsAn experimental non-inferiority study has been performed on 72 pineal glands harvested from post-mortem examinations. The glands have been stained with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), synaptophysin (SYN), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and neurofilament (NF). Slides were digitally scanned. Morphometric data were obtained using optical analysis, CaseViewer, ImageJ, and MorphoRGB ResultsStrong and statistically significant correlations were found and plotted using Bland-Altman diagrams between the two image analysis software in the case of mean percentage and intensity of GFAP, NSE, NF, and SYN. DiscussionsSoftware such as SlideViewer and ImageJ, with our novel software MorphoRGB were used to perform histological morphometry of the pineal gland. Digital morphometry of a small organ such as the pineal gland is easy to do by using whole slide imaging (WSI) and digital image analysis software, with potential use in clinical settings. MorphoRGB provides slightly more accurate data than ImageJ and is more user-friendly regarding measurements of parenchyma percentage stained by immunohistochemistry. The results show that MorphoRGB is not inferior in functionality. ConclusionsThe described morphometric techniques have potential value in current practice, experimental small animal models and human pineal glands, or other small endocrine organs that can be fully included in a whole slide image. The software we used has applications in quantifying immunohistochemical stains.

Melatonin Mediates Osteoblast Proliferation Through the STIM1/ORAI1 Pathway.

Based on the positive correlation between bone mineral density and melatonin levels in blood, this study confirmed that melatonin supplementation prevents postmenopausal osteoporosis. We further confirmed that melatonin promotes an increase in intracellular calcium concentrations through the STIM1/ORAI1 pathway, thereby inducing the proliferation of osteoblasts. Introduction: Osteoporosis (OP) is a progressive, systemic bone disease that is one of the main causes of disability and death in elderly female patients. As an amine hormone produced by the human pineal gland, melatonin plays an important role in regulating bone metabolism. This study intends to investigate the relationship between melatonin levels in human blood and bone density and to suggest the efficacy of melatonin in treating osteoporosis by performing in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: We used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine the serum melatonin levels in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and young women with a normal bone mass. The bone density, BV/TV, Tb.Th, Tb.Sp and other indicators of postmenopausal osteoporosis and mice with a normal bone mass were detected by measuring bone density and micro-CT. The intracellular calcium ion concentration was detected using fluorescence microscopy and a full-wavelength multifunctional microplate reader, and the expression of SOCE-related genes and STIM1/ORAI1 proteins was detected using PCR and WB. Results: This study confirmed that bone density positively correlates with the melatonin level in human blood. In the animal model, melatonin supplementation reverses postmenopausal osteoporosis. We explored the internal mechanism of melatonin treatment of osteoporosis. Melatonin promotes an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentrations through the STIM1/ORAI1 pathway to induce osteoblast proliferation. Conclusions: This study provides an important theoretical basis for the clinical application of melatonin in patients with osteoporosis and helps to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Selective behavioral response of Trichoplax (Placozoa) to RGB-light stimuli

Introduction. The marine animal Trichoplax (Placozoa), which has the animalcular organization among invertebrates, but with outstanding social behaviour and specific movement of the body and its cells, is a model animal for studying various biophysical and chemical processes, including responses to external stimuli. In the articles of specialists from many universities, the problem of Trichoplax phototaxis (Placozoa) is covered in a hypothetical and declarative form. However, there are no specific studies on the behavioural response of these protozoa and their cells to monochrome light signals with different wavelengths that are characteristic of its light habitat at a depth of 5 to 20 meters. Materials and methods. The studies were conducted on laboratory animals Trichoplax sp. H2. Studies of the behavioural response of Trichoplax were performed using modern methods of optical microscopy: Nikon Eclipse Ts2R-Fl Optical Microscope; optical microscopes: Nikon SMZ-1270, Stemi 305; An optical microscope “Leonardo 3.0“(specially designed for the project) allows simultaneously observing the behaviour of a group of Trichoplax and each Trichoplax of this group at a low level of illumination and a stable temperature of its aquatic habitat. Two web cameras were used in the microscope-the upper one with a 1.9 Mp matrix and the lower one - 5 Mp). Results. The theoretical analysis of the spectral composition of light and the degree of its polarization in the marine habitat of the protozoan multicellular animal Trichoplax (Placozoa) and the features of its gene-cell structure is carried out. Based on the laws of hydrooptics and the survival strategy (“food-prey”), the coordinate axes of the light-medium for Trichoplax are determined (the light vertical (395 nm) and two horizontal light axes - the reflected horizontal light from the food (green - 532 nm) and the fluorescent light coming from the aragonite shell of the predator mollusc (red - 630 nm). Based on the animal’s responses to these RGB light stimuli, the hypothesis of RGB phototaxis in Trichoplax and the kinesis of its cells was expressed and confirmed. The monochrome light signals red - 630 nm, green - 532 nm and blue - 395 nm are selected for Trichoplax control. Limitations of the study. In the study of Trichoplax (Placozoa), the behavioural response of this animal and its cells to monochrome light signals with different wavelengths was studied using modern optical microscopy methods, which make it possible to simultaneously observe the behaviour of both the Trichoplax group and each animal of this group at a low level of illumination and stable temperature of its aquatic environment. Conclusion. For the first time, the behaviour of Trichoplax and its cells was controlled using light signals, and the presence of RGB phototaxis and kinesis in its cells was also proved in Trichoplax. The discovery of the RGB-taxis Trichoplax (Placozoa) changed the established scientific ideas in the evolution of colour vision in animals Trichoplax (Placozoa) and the human visual analyzer functioning of its pineal gland. The presented method can be used in hygienic studies of the influence of external pollutants on the environment and the effect of light on the human pineal gland.

Analysis of the Human Pineal Proteome by Mass Spectrometry.

The human pineal gland regulates the day-night dynamics of multiple physiological processes, especially through the secretion of melatonin. Recently, using mass spectrometry-based proteomics and dedicated analysis tools, we have identified regulated proteins and signaling pathways that differ between day and night and/or between control and autistic pineal glands. This large-scale proteomic approach is the method of choice to study proteins in a biological system globally. This chapter proposes a protocol for large-scale analysis of the pineal gland proteome.

MORPHOLOGY AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF PINEAL GLAND CONCRETIONS IN VULPES LAGOPUS L., 1758 (MAMMALIA: CARNIVORA)

Mammalian pineal gland is known to often contain the calcified concretions (brain sand, corpora arenacea, acervuli, concrements), which biological significance, mineral and chemical composition are not full studied. Previous studies reported about chemistry, shape, size and structure of these biominerals from human and rodent pineal gland. The present study addresses to the morphology, mineral and chemical composition of calcified concretions in pineal gland of blue fox Vulpes lagopus L. (Mammalia: Carnivora). We used routine histological methods as well as scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive detector and Raman spectroscopy. Results suggest that the process of mineralization of pineal gland most likely is not age-associated. Our data concerning the location and mineral composition of calcium concretions in blue fox pineal gland are in agreement with those obtained by other researchers on rodent and human pineal glands. Calcified concretions were located in capsule, protruding septae and parenchyma of pineal gland. Two morphological types of concrements were distinguished including mulberry-like and irregular elongated structures. The acervuli of mulberry-like structure were presented by hydroxylapatite and calcite, and the irregular elongated aggregates were composed of only hydroxylapatite. The last one has not been previously recorded in the calcified concretions of the mammals. Present findings give the first insight into the morphology, mineral and chemical composition of calcium concrements in pineal gland of blue fox.

Influence of AEDG and KE Peptides on Mitochondrial Staining and the Expression of Ribosomal Protein L7A with Aging of the Human Pineal Gland and Thymus Cell In Vitro

Influence of AEDG and KE Peptides on Mitochondrial Staining and the Expression of Ribosomal Protein L7A with Aging of the Human Pineal Gland and Thymus Cell In Vitro

Mass-spectrometry analysis of the human pineal proteome during night and day and in autism.

The human pineal gland regulates day‐night dynamics of multiple physiological processes, especially through the secretion of melatonin. Using mass‐spectrometry‐based proteomics and dedicated analysis tools, we identify proteins in the human pineal gland and analyze systematically their variation throughout the day and compare these changes in the pineal proteome between control specimens and donors diagnosed with autism. Results reveal diverse regulated clusters of proteins with, among others, catabolic carbohydrate process and cytoplasmic membrane‐bounded vesicle‐related proteins differing between day and night and/or control versus autism pineal glands. These data show novel and unexpected processes happening in the human pineal gland during the day/night rhythm as well as specific differences between autism donor pineal glands and those from controls.