Melatonin in Disease and Health 2.0
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 26709
Special Issue Editor
Interests: antioxidants; sex differences; skin; melatonin; oxidative stress and cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Neurodegeneration, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases will be some of the main hot topics for the health care of the future.
It will be particularly important to consider the fine, basic mechanisms underlying the chronic dysfunctions towards which the human body gradually moves during the lifespan. In this regard, there are many recently published studies that emphasize the involvement of common general alterations (e.g., oxidative stress, inflammation, angiogenesis, and endothelial function and dysfunction) in the pathogenesis of most chronic diseases. Another point to consider is the progressive aging of the population and the associated increasing number of comorbidities. In this sense, one of the main actors that for years has been little studied is the microbiota present both in the intestine and in the skin, which is fundamental to maintaining a correct balance between oxidizing agents and oxidative defense. Moreover, it is also important in enabling healthy aging in the population, but can itself be the cause of dysfunction and alterations. There are, in fact, many exogenous and endogenous stimuli that can modify the composition of the microbiota, also altering the function of the organ in which it is resident. This is the case, for example, of the intestinal microbiota and the many pathologies in which it has been seen to be involved.
For all these reasons, it becomes fundamental to find a therapeutic and/or supplementation strategy that does not weigh on the already compromised functionality of organs and systems.
In this complex context, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has begun to be and remains the focus of new research works. As a small molecule that is ubiquitously present in all organisms, from cyanobacteria to humans, it has been investigated for its peculiar nocturnal production and its role in the regulation of circadian rhythms. It is now recognized for its pleiotropic activity.
Overall, its biosynthesis starts after the uptake of tryptophan by cells; specifically, this essential amino acid is converted to 5-hydroxytryptophan and then to 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and, ultimately, to melatonin. When it is released in the bloodstream, melatonin regulates physiological functions like circadian rhythm, sleep–wake cycle, gonadal activity, redox homeostasis, neuroprotection, immune modulation, and anticancer effects in the body. On the contrary, it is known that a decrease in melatonin secretion is related to the aging process and leads to tumorigenesis and visceral adiposity.
All these activities are carried out in two different ways: as an amphiphilic molecule, melatonin directly interacts with the intracellular components, but it also acts indirectly through the membrane receptors which are widely distributed in all eukaryotic cells.
Papers dealing with any aspects of melatonin in human health and disease, with special attention paid to new experimental therapeutic applications, will be considered for this Special Issue.
Prof. Dr. Rita Rezzani
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- health and pathology
- oxidative stress and inflammation
- endothelial dysfunction
- aging and cancer
- skin diseases
- gastrointestinal disorders
- neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases
- microbiota composition and function
- brain-gut axis
- metabolic syndromes
- sex/gender dimorphism
