Hyperglycemia-related pathophysiologic mechanisms and potential beneficial actions of melatonin.
Chronically-elevated blood glucose initiates a harmful series of processes in which toxic reactive species play crucial roles. Oxidative as well as nitro-oxidative stress is harmful for virtually all biomolecules including lipids, proteins and DNA. Such pathophysiologic mechanisms eventually results in cellular dysfunction, apoptosis or necrosis. Melatonin is a multifunctional indolamine which counteracts several pathophysiologic steps and displays significant beneficial effects against hyperglycemia-induced cellular toxicity. These are related to melatonin's antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and possibly epigenetic regulatory properties. Current knowledge encourages using this non-toxic indolamine either as a sole treatment or in conjunction with other treatments for inhibition of the biohazards of hyperglycemia.
Korkmaz
Ahmet
A
Gulhane Askeri Tip Akademisi, Fizyoloji Anabilim Dali, 06018 Ankara, Turkey.
Topal
Turgut
T
Oter
Sukru
S
Tan
Dun-Xian
DX
Reiter
Russel J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D008550:Melatonin