Cited by 455Circadian rhythm and melatoninNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsImmune Response and Inflammation

Melatonin and inflammation-Story of a double-edged blade

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Hardeland, Rüdiger·2018·Journal of Pineal Research

Abstract

Melatonin is an immune modulator that displays both pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory properties. Proinflammatory actions, which are well documented by many studies in isolated cells or leukocyte‐derived cell lines, can be assumed to enhance the resistance against pathogens. However, they can be detrimental in autoimmune diseases. Anti‐inflammatory actions are of particular medicinal interest, because they are observed in high‐grade inflammation such as sepsis, ischemia/reperfusion, and brain injury, and also in low‐grade inflammation during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms contributing to anti‐inflammatory effects are manifold and comprise various pathways of secondary signaling. These include numerous antioxidant effects, downregulation of inducible and inhibition of neuronal NO synthases, downregulation of cyclooxygenase‐2, inhibition of high‐mobility group box‐1 signaling and toll‐like receptor‐4 activation, prevention of inflammasome NLRP3 activation, inhibition of NF‐κB activation and upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2). These effects are also reflected by downregulation of proinflammatory and upregulation of anti‐inflammatory cytokines. Proinflammatory actions of amyloid‐β peptides are reduced by enhancing α‐secretase and inhibition of β‐ and γ‐secretases. A particular role in melatonin's actions seems to be associated with the upregulation of sirtuin‐1 (SIRT1), which shares various effects known from melatonin and additionally interferes with the signaling by the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Notch, and reduces the expression of the proinflammatory lncRNA‐CCL2. The conclusion on a partial mediation by SIRT1 is supported by repeatedly observed inhibitions of melatonin effects by sirtuin inhibitors or knockdown.

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  1. Guerrero JM, Reiter RJ. Melatonin-immune system relation- ships. Curr Top Med Chem. 2002;2:167-179.
  2. Hardeland R. Opposite effects of melatonin in different sys- tems and under different conditions. Curr. Top. Biochem. Res. 2016;17:57-69.
  3. León J, Acuña-Castroviejo D, Escames G, et al. Melatonin mit- igates mitochondrial malfunction. J Pineal Res. 2005;38:1-9.
  4. Hardeland R, Coto-Montes A. New vistas on oxidative damage and aging. Open Biol J. 2010;3:39-52.
  5. Ortiz F, Acuña-Castroviejo D, Doerrier C, et al. Melatonin blunts the mitochondrial/NLRP3 connection and protects against radi- ation-induced oral mucositis. J Pineal Res. 2015;58:34-49.
  6. Dong Y, Fan C, Hu W, et al. Melatonin attenuated early brain injury induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage via regulating NLRP3 inflam- masome and apoptosis signaling. J Pineal Res. 2016;60:253-262.
  7. 1600079x, 2018, 4, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpi.12525, Wiley Online Library on [01/09/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License 151.

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Authors
Hardeland, R.
Affiliations
University of Göttingen (DE)
Corresponding author
Hardeland, Rüdiger
Venue
Journal of Pineal Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-10-12
Volume
65
Issue
4
Pages
e12525-e12525
ISSN
  • 0742-3098 (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-079X
OpenAlex
W2893502788
Cited by
455
References
322
Citations by year
2026: 42 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 70 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 2
FWCI
6.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Pineal Research (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
Keywords
melatonin, inflammation, pro-inflammatory effects, anti-inflammatory activity, autoimmune disease, sepsis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, brain injury, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, antioxidant activity, nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, HMGB1, TLR4, NLRP3 inflammasome, NF-κB, Nrf2, cytokines, amyloid-beta, secretases, SIRT1, mTOR, notches
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Inflammation, Melatonin, Signal Transduction, NF-E2-Related Factor 2, Sirtuin 1

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