title: Anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Melatonin is a hormone with complex roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Over the years, it has become clear that melatonin may exacerbate some autoimmune conditions, whereas it alleviates others such as multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a dysregulated immune response directed against the central nervous system. Indeed, the balance between pathogenic CD4(+) T cells secreting IFN-γ (TH 1) or IL-17 (TH 17); and FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells and IL-10(+) type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells) is thought to play an important role in disease activity. Recent evidence suggests that melatonin ameliorates multiple sclerosis by controlling the balance between effector and regulatory cells, suggesting that melatonin-triggered signaling pathways are potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, we review the available data on the effects of melatonin on immune processes relevant for MS and discuss its therapeutic potential.
authors: Center for Research on Neuroimmunological Diseases (CIEN), Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina. mfarez@fleni.org.ar.|Department of Neurology, Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina. mfarez@fleni.org.ar.
authors: Mauricio F
authors: MF
authors: Farez
authors: Department of Neurology, Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Ismael L
authors: IL
authors: Calandri
authors: Center for Research on Neuroimmunological Diseases (CIEN), Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Department of Neurology, Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Correale
authors: Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|The Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors: Francisco J
authors: FJ
authors: Quintana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: MTNR1A; ROR-α; TH17 cells; Tr1 regulatory cells; melatonin; multiple sclerosis