title: Melatonin enhances survival and preserves functional integrity of stem cells: A review.
abstract: Despite state-of-the-art pharmaceutical regimens, continuous improvements in diagnostic techniques as well as refinements in equipment and interventional procedures, many diseases remain refractory to conventional therapies. Recent advances in stem cell (SC) biology have opened an avenue to exploring its therapeutic potential in various disease entities, especially those that are ischemia-related and refractory to conventional treatment. A number of experimental studies and clinical trials have already demonstrated promising outcomes. On the other hand, SC therapy is associated with major problems. For instance, ischemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress are some of the factors unfavorable for SC survival once SCs are implanted into the ischemic area in an attempt to enhance tissue regeneration and restore organ function. Melatonin, which is originally derived from pineal gland in the regulation of human circadian rhythms and sleep, is a potent free radical scavenger and metal chelator with the capacity to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions as well as stabilizing cell membranes. Accumulating data have demonstrated that melatonin-supported SC therapy is superior to SC alone for improving ischemia-related organ dysfunction. In this review, we describe and interpret the potential role of melatonin in sustaining the survival and preserving the functional integrity of SC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Cheng
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Hsun
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|Department of Healthcare Administration and Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: John Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University School of Medicine for International Students, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheuk-Kwan
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|Center for Shockwave Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Nursing, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hon-Kan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yip
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: free radical scavenger; inflammation; ischemia; melatonin; oxidative stress; stem cells