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Developmental Programming of Adult Disease: Reprogramming by Melatonin?
You-Lin Tain1,2, Li-Tung Huang3,4, Chien-Ning Hsu5,6
1Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan. tainyl@hotmail.com.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 18, 2017
Summary
Melatonin may reprogram early life development to prevent chronic diseases. Research explores its role in developmental programming to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) before they appear.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Adult chronic diseases may originate from early life developmental programming (DOHaD).
- Melatonin, an indoleamine, exhibits beneficial bioactivities relevant to human diseases.
- Emerging evidence links melatonin to developmental programming mechanisms for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the reprogramming effects of melatonin in developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) research.
- To explore melatonin's interrelationship with developmental programming mechanisms.
- To highlight insights from animal models for melatonin as a DOHaD reprogramming therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on melatonin and DOHaD.
- Focus on mechanisms of developmental programming.
- Analysis of animal studies on melatonin's role in DOHaD models.
Main Results:
- Melatonin shows multifunctional roles in experimental models of developmental programming.
- Understanding melatonin's mechanisms is crucial for preventing DOHaD-related NCDs.
- Animal studies provide insights into melatonin's potential as a reprogramming therapy.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin is a promising candidate for reprogramming strategies against DOHaD-related NCDs.
- Translational research is needed to bridge the gap between animal models and human clinical trials.
- Urgent need exists to translate melatonin research into clinical practice to combat rising NCD rates.
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