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Melatonin Uptake by Cells: An Answer to Its Relationship with Glucose?
Juan C Mayo1,2, Arturo Aguado3, Rafael Cernuda-Cernuda4
1Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain. mayojuan@uniovi.es.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 15, 2018
Summary
Melatonin, an indole synthesized from tryptophan, plays a role in glucose homeostasis. Glucose transporters (GLUT/SLC2A) may mediate melatonin uptake, influencing cellular functions and insulin secretion.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine primarily synthesized in the pineal gland, with widespread production across various species and tissues.
- It regulates circadian rhythms and possesses antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and differentiation-promoting functions.
- Historically, the pineal gland's influence on glucose homeostasis was recognized even before melatonin's isolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the relationship between melatonin and glucose metabolism.
- To explore the molecular mechanisms linking melatonin to glucose regulation, including its effects on insulin secretion and cellular uptake.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating melatonin's role in glucose homeostasis.
- Analysis of research on melatonin receptors (MTNR1A/B) and glucose transporters (GLUT/SLC2A).
Main Results:
- Melatonin influences insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells, partly mediated by MTNR1A/B receptors, contributing to circadian insulin rhythmicity.
- Emerging evidence links glucose transporters (GLUT/SLC2A) to melatonin internalization into cells.
- The precise mechanisms of melatonin transport and its cytoplasmic actions, particularly for antioxidant effects, remain under investigation.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin significantly impacts glucose homeostasis through various mechanisms.
- Glucose transporters (GLUT/SLC2A) represent a potential key pathway for melatonin's cellular entry and interaction with glucose metabolism.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interplay between melatonin and glucose regulation.
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