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Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry 2016; 06(02): 103-109
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1593813
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Protective Effects of Melatonin on Free Radical-Induced Oxidative Stress

Elisa Belvisi
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Silvia Carloni
2   Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino “Carlo Bo,” Urbino, Italy
,
Monica Tei
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Maria Gabriella Alagna
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Antonino Santacroce
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Marina Riccitelli
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Francesco Bazzini
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Mariangela Longini
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Giuseppe Buonocore
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
Serafina Perrone
1   Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
,
on behalf of the “Gruppo di Studio di Biochimica Clinica Neonatale della Società Italiana di Neonatologia” › Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

02. Juni 2016

26. Juni 2016

Publikationsdatum:
25. Oktober 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Melatonin is both a potent free radical (FR) scavenger and a broad-spectrum antioxidant. It seems to give useful effects in newborn disorders as has been shown for adults. The unbalance between prooxidant and antioxidant factors leads to oxidative stress (OS) and damage to biomolecules. OS is involved in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases in adulthood, such as atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and postischemic perfusion injury, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammation, septic shock, aging, and other degenerative diseases Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that OS is involved in the pathogenesis of many fetal and newborn diseases. The unbalance between a low-efficient antioxidant system and an overproduction of FR, especially in preterm babies, leads to the so-called FR-related disease of newborns, characterized by several cellular, tissue, and organ damage (kidney, retina, lung, bowel, and brain injury). Among antioxidants, melatonin (MLT) shows high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties: it is able to scavenge dangerous FR; it induces the production of antioxidant enzymes; it has no prooxidant effects; and it is safe. During the last decade, MLT has started to be considered as an attractive option to minimize as much as possible the sequelae from OS damage: in damaged lung tissue, MLT attenuates the hyperoxia-induced depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities and reduces proinflammatory cytokines; in animal model affected with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), MLT reduces tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), lipid peroxidation products, reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), and it reverses lipopolysaccharide-induced motility disturbances; in developing retina, MLT prevents retinal ganglion cell death through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, MLT appears as a very interesting drug to reduce the neurological sequelae from hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Because of its lipophilic properties, MLT easily crosses most biological cell membranes, including the placenta and the blood–brain barrier and may prevent neonatal brain injury in early stage of life. The neuroprotective role of MLT calls for further investigation in the newborn infants.

Keywords

melatonin - oxidative stress - newborn - neuroprotection
 

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