title: Melatonin receptors in diabetes: a potential new therapeutical target?
abstract: Melatonin is synthesized and secreted mainly by the pineal gland in a circadian fashion, and it thus mediates endogenous circadian rhythms and influences other physiological functions. Both the G-protein coupled receptors MT1 (encoded by MTNR1A) and MT2 (encoded by MTNR1B) in mammals mediate the actions of melatonin. Evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies proved a key role of melatonin in the regulation of glucose metabolism and the pathogenesis of diabetes, as further confirmed by the recent studies of human genetic variants of MTNR1B. Remarkably, it was also suggested that genetic variations within MTNR1B disordered β-cells function directly, i.e. insulin secretion. This indicated the functional link between MT2 and T2D risk at the protein level, and it may represent the prevailing pathomechanism for how impaired melatonin signaling causes metabolic disorders and increases the T2D risk. It is speculated that melatonin and its receptors may be a new therapeutic avenue in diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
authors.forename: Meihua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: She
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery, Neurim Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laudon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, University of South China, Hengyang, China. Electronic address: wdy20042004@126.com.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: (Pub Chem CID: 18245 or 73-31-4); Diabetes; Glucose homeostasis; Insulin secretion; Melatonin; Receptors