Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey.
Inflammation. 2021 Aug;44(4):1207-1222. doi: 10.1007/s10753-021-01428-9. Epub 2021 Mar 2.
Melatonin is a hormone of the pineal gland that contributes to the regulation of physiological activities, such as sleep, circadian rhythm, and neuroendocrine processes. Melatonin is found in several plants and has pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective. It also has shown therapeutic efficacy in treatment of cancer and diabetes. Melatonin affects several molecular pathways to exert its protective effects. The NLRP3 inflammasome is considered a novel target of melatonin. This inflammasome contributes to enhanced level of IL-1β, caspase-1 activation, and pyroptosis stimulation. The function of NLRP3 inflammasome has been explored in various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. By inhibiting NLRP3, melatonin diminishes inflammation and influences various molecular pathways, such as SIRT1, microRNA, long non-coding RNA, and Wnt/β-catenin. Here, we discuss these molecular pathways and suggest that melatonin-induced inhibition of NLRP3 should be advanced in disease therapy.
褪黑素是松果体分泌的激素，有助于调节生理活动，如睡眠、昼夜节律和神经内分泌过程。褪黑素存在于多种植物中，具有多种药理学活性，包括抗氧化、抗炎、保肝、护心和神经保护作用。它在癌症和糖尿病的治疗中也显示出了治疗效果。褪黑素通过影响几种分子途径来发挥其保护作用。NLRP3 炎性小体被认为是褪黑素的一个新靶点。该炎性小体有助于增强 IL-1β 水平、caspase-1 激活和细胞焦亡刺激。NLRP3 炎性小体的功能已在多种疾病中得到探索，包括癌症、糖尿病和神经紊乱。通过抑制 NLRP3，褪黑素可减轻炎症并影响多种分子途径，如 SIRT1、microRNA、长链非编码 RNA 和 Wnt/β-catenin。在这里，我们讨论了这些分子途径，并提出应该在疾病治疗中推进褪黑素诱导的 NLRP3 抑制。
