Department of Community Health, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
Department of Paediatrics, Fribourg Hospital, Fribourg, Switzerland.
NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2024 Nov 27;10(1):139. doi: 10.1038/s41522-024-00605-6.
Melatonin (MT) (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine recognized primarily for its crucial role in regulating sleep through circadian rhythm modulation in humans and animals. Beyond its association with the pineal gland, it is synthesized in various tissues, functioning as a hormone, tissue factor, autocoid, paracoid, and antioxidant, impacting multiple organ systems, including the gut-brain axis. However, the mechanisms of extra-pineal MT production and its role in microbiota-host interactions remain less understood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of MT, including its production, actions sites, metabolic pathways, and implications for human health. The gastrointestinal tract is highlighted as an additional source of MT, with an examination of its effects on the intestinal microbiota. This review explores whether the microbiota contributes to MT in the intestine, its relationship to food intake, and the implications for human health. Due to its impacts on the intestinal microbiota, MT may be a valuable therapeutic agent for various dysbiosis-associated conditions. Moreover, due to its influence on intestinal MT levels, the microbiota may be a possible therapeutic target for treating health disorders related to circadian rhythm dysregulation.
褪黑素（MT）（N-乙酰-5-甲氧基色胺）主要因其在人类和动物的生物钟调节中对睡眠的关键作用而被认可。除了与松果腺的关联外，它还在各种组织中合成，作为激素、组织因子、自体激素、旁激素和抗氧化剂发挥作用，影响包括肠道-大脑轴在内的多个器官系统。然而，额外的松果体 MT 产生的机制及其在微生物组-宿主相互作用中的作用仍知之甚少。本综述提供了 MT 的全面概述，包括其产生、作用部位、代谢途径及其对人类健康的影响。强调了胃肠道是 MT 的另一个来源，并研究了其对肠道微生物群的影响。本综述探讨了微生物组是否有助于肠道中的 MT，它与食物摄入的关系，以及对人类健康的影响。由于 MT 对肠道微生物群的影响，它可能是治疗各种与菌群失调相关疾病的有价值的治疗剂。此外，由于其对肠道 MT 水平的影响，微生物组可能是治疗与生物钟失调相关健康障碍的潜在治疗靶点。
