Melatonin and its atheroprotective effects: a review.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular disease in which oxidative stress and inflammation are commonly implicated as major causative factors. Identification of novel strategies that contribute to plaque stabilization or inhibition represents a continuing challenge for the medical community. The evidence from the last decade highlights that melatonin influences the cardiovascular system, but its mechanisms of action have not been definitively clarified. Melatonin has atheroprotective effects by acting on different pathogenic signaling processes; these result from its direct free radical scavenger activity, its indirect antioxidant properties and its anti-inflammatory actions. In this review, we summarize the many pieces of the puzzle which identified molecular targets for prevention and therapy against the atherosclerotic pathogenic processes and we evaluate the data documenting that melatonin treatment has important actions that protect against atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases.

• Authors: Gaia Favero, Luigi Fabrizio Rodella, Russel J Reiter, Rita Rezzani
• Journal: Molecular and cellular endocrinology (Mol Cell Endocrinol) Vol. 382 Issue 2 Pg. 926-37 (Feb 15 2014) ISSN: 1872-8057 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 24291636 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antioxidants
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Receptors, Melatonin
• Melatonin

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology)
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Atherosclerosis (genetics, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• Inflammation (genetics, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Melatonin (pharmacology)
• Mitochondria (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (genetics, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Receptors, Melatonin (genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction