Melatonin Treatment in Diseases: From Clinical Application Research to Targeted Drug

Dear Colleagues,

Melatonin, or N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, was discovered by Aaron B. Lerner, in 1958, during a study on the treatment of skin pigmentation diseases. Accumulating evidence points to several important roles of this indolamine, which is produced in the pineal gland and in many mammalian organs, including but not limited to the retina, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems. It acts as a regulatory molecule of the daily light and dark cycle for the body and human functions. It also participates in free radical detoxification, bone formation, reproduction, and the regulation of body mass; it also has an influence on cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, and neurological homeostasis. In addition, antihypertensive, oncostatic, antioxidant, and anti-aging effects of melatonin have been identified, which could provide new insight into therapeutic strategies for various diseases. These peculiar therapeutic effects result from a variety of mechanisms of action that take place in various cellular compartments, including the cytoplasm, mitochondria, and nucleus, as well as in the extracellular matrix.

Melatonin is known to act with MT1 and MT2 receptors in cell membranes, but it diffuses passively across biological membranes due to its low molecular weight (232.3 Da), lipophilicity, and ionization at acid/base equilibrium. Therefore, it has a direct and indirect influence on many diseases. First, it maintains the proper quality of sleep regulation; sleep disorders lead to depression and behavioral complications. Sleep deficiency is linked to physical weakness, increased aggression, and altered disorders. Moreover, abnormalities in melatonin production or secretion are linked to pathologies of many systems. Oral and topical uses should be better evaluated in clinical trials to determine and define the effects of melatonin.

This Special Issue on “Melatonin Treatment in Diseases: From Clinical Application Research to Targeted Drug” will include manuscripts representing recent advances in therapeutic approaches for many diseases in the field of melatonin. Papers that aim to improve our understanding of the effects of this indolamine and its signaling pathways are welcome. Original research and reviews on these and related topics, such as ongoing and completed clinical trials, are invited.

Prof. Dr. Rita Rezzani
Guest Editor

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