Hepatoprotective actions of melatonin:Possible mediation by melatonin receptors

作     者：Alexander M Mathes 

作者机构：Department of AnesthesiologyCritical Care and Pain MedicineSaarland University Hospital 

出 版 物：《World Journal of Gastroenterology》 (世界胃肠病学杂志（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2010年第16卷第48期

页      面：6087-6097页

核心收录：

学科分类：1001[医学-基础医学(可授医学、理学学位)] 10[医学] 

基　　金：Supported by (in part) Grants from the European Society of Anesthesiology and the HOMFOR Homburger Forschungsfrderung 

主　　题：Antioxidant enzymes Hemorrhagic shock Hepatoprotection Ischemia Liver Liver function Melatonin Melatonin receptor Ramelteon Reperfusion Sepsis Toxic liver injury 

摘      要：Melatonin,the hormone of darkness and messenger of the photoperiod,is also well known to exhibit strong direct and indirect antioxidant properties. Melatonin has previously been demonstrated to be a powerful organ protective substance in numerous models of injury; these beneficial effects have been attributed to the hormone s intense radical scavenging capacity. The present report reviews the hepatoprotective potential of the pineal hormone in various models of oxidative stress in vivo,and summarizes the extensive literature showing that melatonin may be a suitable experimental substance to reduce liver damage after sepsis,hemorrhagic shock,ischemia/reperfusion,and in numerous models of toxic liver injury. Melatonin s influence on hepatic antioxidant enzymes and other potentially relevant pathways,such as nitric oxide signaling,hepatic cytokine and heat shock protein expression,are evaluated. Based on recent literature demonstrating the functional relevance of melatonin receptor activation for hepatic organ protection,this article finally suggests that melatonin receptors could mediate the hepatoprotective actions of melatonin therapy.