ISSN: 1449-2288International Journal of Biological Sciences
Global reach, higher impact
Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18(3):983-994. doi:10.7150/ijbs.66871 This issue Cite
Review
The role of melatonin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease
1. Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
2. State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medcal Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.
3. School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
4. Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore.
5. School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
6. Department of Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China.
7. Shenzhen Mental Health Centre, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
8. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
9. Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China.
10. Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.
* These authors contributed equally.
Abstract
In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its related disorders like obesity, the abnormal protein processing, oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines will drive the activation of inflammatory pathways, leading to low-grade chronic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) in the periphery and impaired neuronal insulin signaling in the brain. Studies have shown that such inflammation and impaired insulin signaling contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are needed for the treatment of T2DM and T2DM-linked AD. Melatonin is primarily known for its circadian role which conveys message of darkness and induces night-state physiological functions. Besides rhythm-related effects, melatonin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Melatonin levels are downregulated in metabolic disorders with IR, and activation of melatonin signaling delays disease progression. The aim of this Review is to highlight the therapeutic potentials of melatonin in preventing the acceleration of AD in T2DM individuals through its therapeutic mechanisms, including antioxidative effects, anti-inflammatory effects, restoring mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity.
Keywords: Melatonin, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Mitochondria, Anti-inflammatory, Insulin resistance
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