Prospects of the clinical utilization of melatonin.

G A Bubenik, D E Blask, G M Brown, G J Maestroni, S F Pang, R J Reiter, M Viswanathan, N Zisapel
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引用次数: 148

Abstract

This review summarizes the present knowledge on melatonin in several areas on physiology and discusses various prospects of its clinical utilization. Ever increasing evidence indicates that melatonin has an immuno-hematopoietic role. In animal studies, melatonin provided protection against gram-negative septic shock, prevented stress-induced immunodepression, and restored immune function after a hemorrhagic shock. In human studies, melatonin amplified the antitumoral activity of interleukin-2. Melatonin has been proven as a powerful cytostatic drug in vitro as well as in vivo. In the human clinical field, melatonin appears to be a promising agent either as a diagnostic or prognostic marker of neoplastic diseases or as a compound used either alone or in combination with the standard cancer treatment. Utilization of melatonin for treatment of rhythm disorders, such as those manifested in jet lag, shift work or blindness, is one of the oldest and the most successful clinical application of this chemical. Low doses of melatonin applied in controlled-release preparation were very effective in improving the sleep latency, increasing the sleep efficiency and rising sleep quality scores in elderly, melatonin-deficient insomniacs. In the cardiovascular system, melatonin seems to regulate the tone of cerebral arteries; melatonin receptors in vascular beds appear to participate in the regulation of body temperature. Heat loss may be the principal mechanism in the initiation of sleepiness caused by melatonin. The role of melatonin in the development of migraine headaches is at present uncertain but more research could result in new ways of treatment. Melatonin is the major messenger of light-dependent periodicity, implicated in the seasonal reproduction of animals and pubertal development in humans. Multiple receptor sites detected in brain and gonadal tissues of birds and mammals of both sexes indicate that melatonin exerts a direct effect on the vertebrate reproductive organs. In a clinical study, melatonin has been used successfully as an effective female contraceptive with little side effects. Melatonin is one of the most powerful scavengers of free radicals. Because it easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier, this antioxidant may, in the future, be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, stroke, nitric oxide, neurotoxicity and hyperbaric oxygen exposure. In the digestive tract, melatonin reduced the incidence and severity of gastric ulcers and prevented severe symptoms of colitis, such as mucosal lesions and diarrhea.

褪黑素的临床应用前景。
本文综述了褪黑素在生理几个方面的研究进展,并对其临床应用前景进行了展望。越来越多的证据表明,褪黑素具有免疫造血作用。在动物实验中,褪黑素对革兰氏阴性脓毒性休克提供保护,防止应激性免疫抑制,并在失血性休克后恢复免疫功能。在人体研究中,褪黑素增强了白细胞介素-2的抗肿瘤活性。褪黑素已被证明是一种强大的细胞抑制药物,在体外和体内。在人类临床领域,褪黑素似乎是一种很有前途的药物,无论是作为肿瘤疾病的诊断或预后标志物,还是作为单独使用或与标准癌症治疗联合使用的化合物。利用褪黑素治疗节律障碍,如时差反应、轮班工作或失明,是这种化学物质最古老、最成功的临床应用之一。在控释制剂中应用低剂量褪黑素对老年褪黑素缺乏症患者改善睡眠潜伏期、提高睡眠效率和提高睡眠质量评分非常有效。在心血管系统中,褪黑素似乎可以调节大脑动脉的张力;血管床中的褪黑激素受体似乎参与了体温的调节。热损失可能是褪黑激素引起嗜睡的主要机制。褪黑素在偏头痛发展中的作用目前尚不确定,但更多的研究可能会产生新的治疗方法。褪黑素是光依赖周期性的主要信使,与动物的季节性繁殖和人类的青春期发育有关。在鸟类和哺乳动物的大脑和性腺组织中检测到多个受体位点,表明褪黑素对脊椎动物的生殖器官有直接影响。在临床研究中,褪黑素作为一种副作用小的有效女性避孕药已被成功使用。褪黑素是最强大的自由基清除剂之一。因为它很容易穿透血脑屏障,这种抗氧化剂将来可能被用于治疗阿尔茨海默氏症和帕金森病、中风、一氧化氮、神经毒性和高压氧暴露。在消化道,褪黑素降低胃溃疡的发生率和严重程度,防止严重的结肠炎症状,如粘膜病变和腹泻。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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