title: Melatonin as a Therapeutic Resource for Inflammatory Visual Diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uveitis and optic neuritis are prevalent ocular inflammatory diseases, and highly damaging ocular conditions. Both diseases are currently treated with corticosteroids, but they do not have adequate efficacy and are often associated with severe side effects. Thus, uveitis and optic neuritis remain a challenging field to ophthalmologists and a significant public health concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review summarizes findings showing the benefits of a treatment with melatonin in experimental models of these inflammatory ocular diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxidative and nitrosative damage, tumor necrosis factor, and prostaglandin production have been involved in the pathogeny of uveitis and optic neuritis. Melatonin is an efficient antioxidant and antinitridergic, and has the ability to reduce prostaglandin and tumor necrosis factor levels both in the retina and optic nerve. Moreover, melatonin not only prevents functional and structural consequences of experimental uveitis and optic neuritis, but it is also capable of suppressing the actively ongoing ocular inflammatory response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since melatonin protects ocular tissues against inflammation, it could be a potentially useful anti-inflammatory therapy in ophthalmology.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcos L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: María Florencia González
authors.initials: MFG
authors.lastname: Fleitas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Hernán
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dieguez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Agustina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iaquinandi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sande
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Damián
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dorfman
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine, CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires, CONICET, Paraguay 2155, 5th Floor, (1121), Buenos Aires. Argentina.
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rosenstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Melatonin; nitrosative damage.; ocular inflammation; optic neuritis; oxidative damage; uveitis