Abstract
The high incidence of age-related diseases in the increasing population of elderly people has stimulated interest in the search for protective agents that have the capability of preventing premature aging and delaying the onset of degenerative disorders. To preserve health in old age becomes a primary goal for biomedicine, because the increasing longevity in our societies is associated with a rise in morbidity. The difficulties in finding new approaches and safe strategies for prevention, intervention, and treatment are related to the lack of theoretical background as well as to insufficient models to test the efficacy of anti-aging agents. Melatonin is a prime candidate for slowing the aging process and targeting its underlying pathology. Melatonin has profound gerontoprotective and antioxidant activities. Because enhanced oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the aging process and chronic diseases associated with senescence, the adminstration of a potent amphiphilic antioxidant agent with high bioavailability such as melatonin may become a promising, safe, and effective intervention strategy to slow aging and the initiation and progression of age-related disorders. Investigations on melatonin and its anti-aging activity may be of great benefit in increasing life quality of the elderly.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Reiter, R. J., Tan, D.-X., Mayo, J. C., Sainz, R. M., and Lopez-Burillo, S. (2002). Free Radic. Res. 36, 1323–1329.
Reiter, R. J., Tan, D.-X., and Burkhardt, S. (2002). Mech. Ageing Dev. 30, 1007–1019.
Kasarek, K. (2004). Exp. Gerontol. 39, 1723–1729.
Poeggeler, B. (1993). Experientia 49, 611–613.
Poeggeler, B., Reiter R. J., Tan, D.-X., Chen L.-D., and Manchester, L. C. (1993). J. Pineal Res. 14, 151–168.
Reiter, R. J. (1992). Bioessays 14, 169–175.
Wu, Y.-H. and Swaab, D. F. (2005). J. Pineal Res. 38, 145–152.
Pandi-Perumal, S. R., Seils, L. K., Kayumow, L., et al. (2002). Aging Res. Rev. 1, 559–604.
Armstrong, S. M. and Redman, J. R. (1991). Med. Hypothesis 34, 300–309.
Acuña-Castroviejo, D., Escames, G., León, J., Carazo, A., and Khaldy, H. (2003). Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 527, 549–557.
Haimov, I. and Lavie, P. (1997). Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 24, 167–173.
Okatani, Y., Wakatusi, A., Reiter, R. J., and Miyahara, Y. (2003). Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 35, 367–375.
Reiter, R. J. (1980). Endocr. Res. 1, 109–131.
Malm, O. J., Skaug, O. E., and Lingjaerde, P. (1959). Acta Endocrinol. 30, 22–28.
Reiter, R. J., Tan, D.-X., Kim, S. J., Manchester, L. C., Qu, W., and Garay, V. (1999). Mech. Ageing Dev. 110, 157–173.
Anisimov, V. N. (2001). Exp. Gerontol. 36, 1101–1136.
Reiter, R. J. (2004). J. Pineal Res. 37, 213–214.
Anisimov, V. N., Zavarzina, N. Y., Zabezhinski, M. A., et al. (2001). J. Gerontol. 56A, B311-B323.
Turek, F. W. (1996). Nature 379, 295–296.
Poeggeler, B. (2004). Ninth International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, Philadelphia, PA, abstract P4–398.
Terron, M. P., Cubero, J., Marchena J. M., Barriga, C., and Rodriguez, A. B. (2002). Exp. Gerontol. 37, 421–426.
Sharman, E. H., Sharman, K. G., Ge, Y.-W., Lahiri, D. K., and Bondy, S. C. (2004). J. Pineal Res. 36, 165–170.
Magri, F., Sarra, S., Cinchetti, W., et al. (2004). J. Pineal Res. 36, 256–261.
Lahiri, D. K., Ge, Y. W., Sharman, E. H. and Bondy, S. C. (2004). J. Pineal Res. 36, 217–223.
Pierpaoli, W., Dall’Ara, A., Pedrinis, E., and Regelson, W. (1991). Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 621, 291–313.
Pierpaoli, W. and Regelson, W. (1994). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91, 787–791.
Grad, B. R. and Rozencweig, R. (1993). Psychoneuroendocrinology 18, 283–295.
Kloeden, P. E., Rössler, R., and Rössler, O. E. (1993). Exp. Gerontol. 28, 109–118.
Zhadanova, I. V., Wurtman, R. J., Regan, M. M., Taylor, J. A., Shi, J. P., and Leclair, O. U. (2001). J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86, 4727–4730.
Hardeland, R., Coto-Montes, A., and Poeggeler, B. (2003). Chronobiol. Int. 20, 921–962.
Hardeland, R. and Poeggeler, B. (2003). J. Pineal Res. 34, 233–241.
Fletcher, R. A. and Sopher C. (1997). Fifth Canadian Pineal and Melatonin Symposium, Guelph, abstract 7.
Thomas, J. N. and Smith-Sonneborn, J. (1997). J. Pineal Res. 23, 123–130.
Poeggeler, B. (1998). In: Reactive oxygen species in biological systems. Gilbert, D. L. and Colton, C. D. (eds.). Plenum Press: New York, pp. 421–451.
Izmaylov, D. M. and Obukhova, L. K. (1999). Mech. Ageing Dev. 106, 233–240.
Bonilla, E., Medina-Leendertz, S., and Diaz, S. (2002). Exp. Gerontol. 37, 629–638.
Baekev, V. V., Efremov, A. V., and Anisimov, V. N. (1997). Worm Breeder Gaz. 15, 36.
Lenz, S. P., Izui, S., Benediktsson, H., and Hart, D. A. (1995). Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 17, 581–592.
Mocchegiani, E., Santarelli, L., Tibaldi, A., et al. (1998). J. Neuroimmunol. 86, 111–122.
Lipman, R. D., Bronson, R. T., Wu, D., et al. (1998). Mech. Ageing Dev. 103, 269–284.
Oxenkrug, G., Requintina, P., and Bachurin, S. (2001). Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 939, 190–199.
Anisimov, V. N., Alimova, I. N., Baturin, D. A., et al. (2003). Exp. Gerontol. 38, 449–461.
Semenchenko, G. V., Anisimov, V. N., and Yashin, A. I. (2004). Exp. Gerontol. 39, 1499–1511.
Oaknin-Bendahan, S. Y., Anis, I., Nir, I., and Zisapel, N. (1995). Neuroreport 6, 785–788.
Matsubara, E., Bryant-Thomas, T., Pacheco Quinto, J., et al. (2003). J. Neurochem. 85, 1101–1108.
Manda, K. and Bhatia, A. L. (2003). Biogerontology 4, 133–139.
Castillo, C., Salazar, V., Ariznavarreta, C., Vara, E., and Tresguerres, J. A. F. (2005). J. Pineal Res. 38, 240–246.
Floyd, R. A., Hensley, K., Forster, M. J., Kelleher-Andersson J. A., and Wood, P. L. (2002). Mech. Ageing Dev. 30, 1021–1031.
Harman, D. (1956). Gerontology 11, 298–300.
Harman, D. (1972). J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 11, 298–300.
Gilbert, D. L. (2000). Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 899, 1–14.
Enesco, H. E. and Verdone-Smith, C. (1980). Exp. Gerontol. 15, 335–338.
Durand, D., Polidori, A., Salles J. P., and Pucci, B. (2003). Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 13, 859–862.
Menendez-Peleaz, A., Poeggeler, B., Reiter, R. J., Barlow-Walden, L. R., Pablos, M. I., and Tan, D.-X. (1993). J. Cell. Biochem. 53, 373–382.
Menendez-Peleaz, A. and Reiter, R. J. (1993). J. Pineal Res. 15, 59–69.
León, J., Acuña-Castroviejo, D., Escames, G., Tan, D.-X., and Reiter, R. J. (2005). J. Pineal Res. 38, 1–9.
Fosslien, E. (2001). Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. 31, 25–67.
Kelly, R. W., Amato, F., and Seamark, R. F. (1984). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 121, 371–379.
Chyan, Y.-J., Poeggeler, B., Omar, R. A., et al. (1999). J. Biol. Chem. 274, 21937–21942.
Marangos, P. J., Patel, J., Hirata, F., et al. (1981). Life Sci. 29, 259–267.
Jorda, E. G., Jimerez, A., Verdaquer, E., et al. (2005). Apoptosis 10, 91–104.
Ferrari, C. K. (2004). Biogerontology 5, 275–289.
Seabra, M. L., Bignotto, M., Pinto, L. R. Jr., and Tufik, S. (2000). J. Pineal Res. 29, 193–200.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Poeggeler, B. Melatonin, aging, and age-related diseases. Endocr 27, 201–212 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/ENDO:27:2:201
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/ENDO:27:2:201