The effects of melatonin on neurohormonal regulation in cardiac cachexia: A mechanistic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review melatonin's potential role in modulating heart failure and cardiac cachexia via neurohormonal regulation and its possible mechanisms of action.
Results Summary
Melatonin likely regulates signaling pathways related to muscle wasting in cardiac cachexia by reducing tumor necrosis factor α levels, activating insulin-like growth factor-1 gene expression, inhibiting proteolytic pathways (NF-κB, renin-angiotensin system, forkhead box protein O1), and increasing protein synthesis via Akt and mTOR activation. More cellular and clinical studies are needed to confirm these mechanisms.
Population
Patients with heart failure and cardiac cachexia (not specified further).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | neutral | signaling pathways related to muscle wasting in cardiac cachexia | - | - | likely regulates | #1 |
melatonin | decrease | tumor necrosis factor α levels | - | - | reducing | #2 |
melatonin | increase | gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 | - | - | activating | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | proteolytic pathway | - | - | inhibits | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway | - | - | inhibiting | #5 |
melatonin | decrease | renin-angiotensin system pathway | - | - | inhibiting | #6 |
melatonin | decrease | forkhead box protein O1 pathway | - | - | inhibiting | #7 |
melatonin | increase | protein synthesis | - | - | could increase | #8 |
melatonin | increase | Akt pathway | - | - | activating | #9 |
melatonin | increase | mammalian target of rapamycin pathway | - | - | activating | #10 |
Heart failure (HF) is one of the prominent health concerns and its morbidity is comparable to many malignancies. Cardiac cachexia (CC), characterized by significant weight loss and muscle wasting, frequently occurs in progressive stage of HF. The pathophysiology of CC is multifactorial including nutritional and gastrointestinal alterations, immunological and neurohormonal activation, and anabolic/catabolic imbalance. Neurohormones are critically involved in the development of both HF and CC. Melatonin is known as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant hormone. It seems that melatonin possibly regulates the neurohormonal signaling pathway related to muscle wasting in CC, but limited comprehensive data is available on the mechanistic aspects of its activity. In this, we reviewed the reports regarding the role of neurohormones in CC occurrence and possible activity of melatonin in modulation of HF and subsequently CC via neurohormonal regulation. In addition, we have discussed proposed mechanisms of action for melatonin considering its possible interactions with neurohormones. In conclusion, melatonin likely regulates the signaling pathways related to muscle wasting in CC by reducing tumor necrosis factor α levels and activating the gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-1. Also, this hormone inhibits the proteolytic pathway by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), renin-angiotensin system and forkhead box protein O1 pathways and could increase protein synthesis by activating Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin. To elucidate the positive role of melatonin in CC and exact mechanisms related to muscle wasting more cellular and clinical trial studies are needed.