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Biomolecules
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Melatonin in Normal Physiology and Disease
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Melatonin in Normal Physiology and Disease

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 3388

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Georges Maestroni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
Interests: circadian rhythms; melatonin; immune system; adrenergic modulation of hematopoiesis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In mammals, melatonin is synthesized in virtually all cells of the body, where it functions as an autocrine or paracrine messenger and as a cytoprotective agent by virtue of its detoxifying and antioxidant properties. However, it is the melatonin synthesized in the pineal gland that circulates in the blood in a circadian fashion, playing a vital role in the body. In fact, pineal melatonin transduces light as a basic environmental cue into an endocrine signal capable of synchronizing the entire organism during the photoperiod. As a result, virtually all physiological processes are affected, and deranged pineal melatonin production is associated with various pathological states. Melatonin activates two high-affinity membrane receptors, the specific contribution of which to most of its effects is still not clear. This Special Issue aims to gather research articles or reviews on the role of melatonin in normal physiology, including emerging roles such as neurotrophic effects, human reproduction, and mesenchymal stem cell function. In addition, papers on the pathological significance of disturbed melatonin rhythms, as well as the related therapeutic possibilities in inflammatory disorders, skin diseases, viral and bacterial infections, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, and autoimmunity, are also welcome.

Dr. Georges Maestroni
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circadian rhythms
  • immunity
  • skin
  • reproduction
  • aging
  • viral and bacterial infection
  • inflammation
  • mesenchymal stem cells
  • cancer
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • osteoporosis

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

16 pages, 768 KiB  
Review
Role of Melatonin in Viral, Bacterial and Parasitic Infections
by Georges J. M. Maestroni
Biomolecules 2024, 14(3), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14030356 - 16 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1344
Abstract
In all mammals, the circulating pool of MLTs is synthesized in the pineal gland during the night’s darkness hours. Its main function is synchronizing the organism in the photoperiod. In contrast, extra-pineal MLT is synthesized in peripheral organs, does not follow any circadian [...] Read more.
In all mammals, the circulating pool of MLTs is synthesized in the pineal gland during the night’s darkness hours. Its main function is synchronizing the organism in the photoperiod. In contrast, extra-pineal MLT is synthesized in peripheral organs, does not follow any circadian rhythm or circulate, and plays a detoxifying and cytoprotective role. Circulating MLT may stimulate both innate and acquired immune responses through its circadian action and by activating high-affinity receptors on immunocompetent cells. Extra-pineal MLT may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that dampen the innate immune response. These two seemingly divergent roles may be considered to be two sides of the same coin. In fact, the integration of both circulating and extra-pineal MLT functions might generate a balanced and effective immune response against microbial pathogens. The studies described in this review investigated the effects of exogenous MLT in various models of infectious diseases using extremely different doses and treatment schedules. None of them evaluated the possibility of integrating the non-circadian anti-inflammatory effect with the circadian immunoenhancing action of MLT. As a consequence, in spite of the fact that most studies agree that MLT has a beneficial effect against infections, it seems difficult to draw any definite conclusion about its possible therapeutic use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Melatonin in Normal Physiology and Disease)
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22 pages, 1948 KiB  
Review
From Chronodisruption to Sarcopenia: The Therapeutic Potential of Melatonin
by José Fernández-Martínez, Yolanda Ramírez-Casas, Yang Yang, Paula Aranda-Martínez, Laura Martínez-Ruiz, Germaine Escames and Darío Acuña-Castroviejo
Biomolecules 2023, 13(12), 1779; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13121779 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1628
Abstract
Sarcopenia is an age-related condition that involves a progressive decline in muscle mass and function, leading to increased risk of falls, frailty, and mortality. Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, aging-related processes like inflammation, oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial capacity, and cell [...] Read more.
Sarcopenia is an age-related condition that involves a progressive decline in muscle mass and function, leading to increased risk of falls, frailty, and mortality. Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, aging-related processes like inflammation, oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial capacity, and cell apoptosis contribute to this decline. Disruption of the circadian system with age may initiate these pathways in skeletal muscle, preceding the onset of sarcopenia. At present, there is no pharmacological treatment for sarcopenia, only resistance exercise and proper nutrition may delay its onset. Melatonin, derived from tryptophan, emerges as an exceptional candidate for treating sarcopenia due to its chronobiotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its impact on mitochondria and organelle, where it is synthesized and crucial in aging skeletal muscle, further highlights its potential. In this review, we discuss the influence of clock genes in muscular aging, with special reference to peripheral clock genes in the skeletal muscle, as well as their relationship with melatonin, which is proposed as a potential therapy against sarcopenia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Melatonin in Normal Physiology and Disease)
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