title: Melatonin and its atheroprotective effects: a review.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular disease in which oxidative stress and inflammation are commonly implicated as major causative factors. Identification of novel strategies that contribute to plaque stabilization or inhibition represents a continuing challenge for the medical community. The evidence from the last decade highlights that melatonin influences the cardiovascular system, but its mechanisms of action have not been definitively clarified. Melatonin has atheroprotective effects by acting on different pathogenic signaling processes; these result from its direct free radical scavenger activity, its indirect antioxidant properties and its anti-inflammatory actions. In this review, we summarize the many pieces of the puzzle which identified molecular targets for prevention and therapy against the atherosclerotic pathogenic processes and we evaluate the data documenting that melatonin treatment has important actions that protect against atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Favero
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi Fabrizio
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Rodella
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Russel J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: rezzani@med.unibs.it.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezzani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Melatonin; Oxidative stress