title: Is melatonin ready to be used in preterm infants as a neuroprotectant?
abstract: The prevention of neurological disabilities following preterm birth remains a major public health challenge and efforts are still needed to test the neuroprotective properties of candidate molecules. Melatonin serves as a neuroprotectant in adult models of cerebral ischemia through its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. An increasing number of preclinical studies have consistently demonstrated that melatonin protects the damaged developing brain by preventing abnormal myelination and an inflammatory glial reaction, a major cause of white matter injury. The main questions asked in this review are whether preclinical data on the neuroprotective properties of melatonin are sufficient to translate this concept into the clinical setting, and whether melatonin can reduce white matter damage in preterm infants. This review provides support for our view that melatonin is now ready to be tested in human preterm neonates, and discusses ongoing and planned clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hôpital Robert Debré, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France; Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM, Paris, France; PremUP Foundation, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biran
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phan Duy
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Decobert
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bednarek
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baud
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008550:Melatonin