Melatonin As A Therapeutic Resource For Inflammatory Visual Diseases

ARANDA ML; GONZÁLEZ FLEITAS MF; DIEGUEZ HH; IAQUINANDI A; SANDE PH; DORFMAN D; ROSENSTEIN RE

CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY

BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD

Lugar: Oak Park; Año: 2017 vol. 15 p. 951 - 962

1570-159X

Curr Neuropharmacol. 2017 Jan 13. [Epub ahead of print]Melatonin As A Therapeutic Resource For Inflammatory Visual Diseases.Aranda ML, Fleitas MF, Dieguez H, Iaquinandi A, Sande PH, Dorfman D1, Rosenstein RE2.Author informationAbstractBACKGROUND: Uveitis and optic neuritis are prevalent ocular inflammatory diseases, and highly damaging ocular conditions. Both diseases are currently treated with corticosteroids, but they do not have adequate efficacy and are often associated with severe side effects. Thus, uveitis and optic neuritis remain a challenging field to ophthalmologists and a significant public health concern.OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes findings showing the benefits of a treatment with melatonin in experimental models of these inflammatory ocular diseases.RESULTS: Oxidative and nitrosative damage, tumor necrosis factor, and prostaglandin production have been involved in the pathogeny of uveitis and optic neuritis. Melatonin is an efficient antioxidant and antinitridergic, and has the ability to reduce prostaglandin and tumor necrosis factor levels both in the retina and optic nerve. Moreover, melatonin not only prevents functional and structural consequences of experimental uveitis and optic neuritis, but it is also capable of suppressing the actively ongoing ocular inflammatory response.CONCLUSIONS: Since melatonin protects ocular tissues against inflammation, it could be a potentially useful anti-inflammatory therapy in ophthalmology.