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Melatonin induces mechanisms of brain resilience against neurodegeneration
Author(s) -
Corpas Rubén,
GriñánFerré Christian,
PalomeraÁvalos Verónica,
Porquet David,
García de Frutos Pablo,
Franciscato Cozzolino Silvia M.,
RodríguezFarré Eduard,
Pallàs Mercè,
Sanfeliu Coral,
Cardoso Bárbara R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/jpi.12515
Subject(s) - melatonin , neuroprotection , neurodegeneration , proinflammatory cytokine , medicine , endocrinology , genetically modified mouse , transgene , biology , inflammation , disease , biochemistry , gene
Melatonin is an endogenous pleiotropic molecule which orchestrates regulatory functions and protective capacity against age‐related ailments. The increase in circulating levels of melatonin through dietary supplements intensifies its health benefits. Investigations in animal models have shown that melatonin protects against Alzheimer's disease ( AD )‐like pathology, although clinical studies have not been conclusive. We hypothesized that melatonin induces changes in the brain that prevent or attenuate AD by increasing resilience. Therefore, we treated healthy nontransgenic (NoTg) and AD transgenic (3xTg‐ AD ) 6‐month‐old mice with a daily dose of 10 mg/kg of melatonin until 12 months of age. As expected, melatonin reversed cognitive impairment and dementia‐associated behaviors of anxiety and apathy and reduced amyloid and tau burden in 3xTg‐ AD mice. Remarkably, melatonin induced cognitive enhancement and higher wellness level‐related behavior in NoTg mice. At the mechanism level, NF ‐κB and proinflammatory cytokine expressions were decreased in both NoTg and 3xTg‐ AD mice. The SIRT 1 pathway of longevity and neuroprotection was also activated in both mouse strains after melatonin dosing. Furthermore, we explored new mechanisms and pathways not previously associated with melatonin treatment such as the ubiquitin‐proteasome proteolytic system and the recently proposed neuroprotective Gas6/ TAM pathway. The upregulation of proteasome activity and the modulation of Gas6 and its receptors by melatonin were similarly displayed by both NoTg and 3xTg‐ AD mice. Therefore, these results confirm the potential of melatonin treatment against AD pathology, by way of opening new pathways in its mechanisms of action, and demonstrating that melatonin induces cognitive enhancement and brain resilience against neurodegenerative processes.