Open AccessProtective roles of melatonin in central nervous system diseases by regulation of neural stem cells
Author(s) -
Yu Xin,
Li Zheng,
Zheng Heyi,
Ho Jeffery,
Chan Matthew T.V.,
Wu William Ka Kei
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/cpr.12323
Subject(s) - melatonin , neurogenesis , neural stem cell , neuroprotection , neuroscience , central nervous system , pineal gland , biology , stem cell , endocrine system , hormone , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology
Neural stem cells ( NSC s) are immature precursors of the central nervous system (CNS), with self‐renewal and multipotential differentiation abilities. Their proliferation and differentiation are dynamically regulated by hormonal and local factors. Alteration in neurogenesis is associated with many neurological disorders. Increasing evidence suggests that modulation of NSC s can be a promising therapeutic approach for neural injury and neurodegenerative disorders. Melatonin, a pineal gland‐derived hormone, regulates the neuroimmuno‐endocrine axis and is functionally important to the circadian rhythm, tumour suppression and immunity. In the CNS, melatonin exerts neuroprotective effects in many diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and ischaemic brain injury. Emerging evidence suggests that it might also mediate such protective action by influencing proliferation and differentiation of NSC s. In this article, we review the current literature concerned with effects of melatonin on NSC s in different physiological and pathological conditions.