Melatonin and the Skin: Current Progress and Perspectives for Human Health.

Andrzej T Slominski, Tae-Kang Kim, Zorica Janjetovic, Radomir M Slominski, Gitali Ganguli-Indra, Mohammad Athar, Arup K Indra, Russel J Reiter, Konrad Kleszczyński

Department of Dermatology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Cancer Chemoprevention Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Electronic address: [email protected] of Dermatology, Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Cancer Chemoprevention Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Electronic address: [email protected]. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Skin has the capacity to produce and metabolize melatonin into biologically active metabolites. These metabolites exert phenotypic activities through receptor-dependent and receptor-independent action, including direct antioxidant activity, interaction with regulatory proteins, and regulation of mitochondrial function. They can act on G-protein-coupled melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) as well as nuclear aryl hydrocarbon receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ receptors. These metabolic pathways, together with receptor- and nonreceptor-mediated phenotypic activities of its intermediates, has been identified as a cutaneous melatoninergic system. Its pharmacological modulation and topical application of melatonin or its metabolites can be used to prevent and treat skin disorders and cutaneous aging.

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Research summary

The paper claims that melatonin and its metabolites can be pharmacologically modulated to prevent and treat skin disorders and cutaneous aging. The focus on melatonin's role in skin health and aging processes suggests potential implications for longevity research, although the findings may be more incremental than groundbreaking.

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