ArticlePloS one2015
Human gastroenteropancreatic expression of melatonin and its receptors MT1 and MT2.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 63 citations in OpenAlex.
- Trial
- Agomelatine improves symptom severity and quality of life in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: insights from a randomized controlled clinical trial.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2026Article
- Repurposing melatonin for its potential roles in gastrointestinal cancers: highlighting the molecular mechanisms.Cancer cell international · 2026Review
- Therapeutic Use of Melatonin for Gastrointestinal Motility and Hypersomnolence in a Patient With Pineal Cyst Pathology.The American journal of case reports · 2026Article
- Expression of gastrointestinal clock genes and associated hormones levels in hibernating and non-hibernating Daurian ground squirrels.Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology · 2026Article
- The melatonin-microbiome axis: a new frontier in gut health for the immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Inflammopharmacology · 2026Review
- Practical application of melatonin for pancreas disorders: protective roles against inflammation, malignancy, and dysfunctions.Pharmacological reports : PR · 2025Review
- The double burden of malnutrition and environmental enteric dysfunction as potential factors affecting gut-derived melatonin in children under adverse environments.Frontiers in nutrition · 2023Article
- Circadian rhythms in colonic function.Frontiers in physiology · 2023Review
- Melatonin-Microbiome Two-Sided Interaction in Dysbiosis-Associated Conditions.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Melatonin in Rats with Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Metabolism in Patients With Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2022Review
- Assessment of the Therapeutic Potential of Melatonin for the Treatment of Osteoporosis Through a Narrative Review of Its Signaling and Preclinical and Clinical Studies.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Review
- Melatonin MTAmerican journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology · 2021Article
- Melatonin: a pleiotropic hormone as a novel potent therapeutic candidate in arsenic toxicity.Molecular biology reports · 2021Review
- Melatonin ameliorates microvessel abnormalities in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.Neural regeneration research · 2021Article
- Circadian clocks in the digestive system.Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2021Review
- The inhibitory effect of melatonin on human prostate cancer.Cell communication and signaling : CCS · 2021Review
- Role of Sulfur Metabolism Gene and High-Sulfur Gene Expression in Wool Growth Regulation in the Cashmere Goat.Frontiers in genetics · 2021Article
- Chemotherapeutics-Induced Intestinal Mucositis: Pathophysiology and Potential Treatment Strategies.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimThe largest source of melatonin, according to animal studies, is the gastrointestinal (GI) tract but this is not yet thoroughly characterized in humans. This study aims to map the expression of melatonin and its two receptors in human GI tract and pancreas using microarray analysis and immunohistochemistry.
methodGene expression data from normal intestine and pancreas and inflamed colon tissue due to ulcerative colitis were analyzed for expression of enzymes relevant for serotonin and melatonin production and their receptors. Sections from paraffin-embedded normal tissue from 42 individuals, representing the different parts of the GI tract (n=39) and pancreas (n=3) were studied with immunohistochemistry using antibodies with specificity for melatonin, MT1 and MT2 receptors and serotonin.
resultsEnzymes needed for production of melatonin are expressed in both GI tract and pancreas tissue. Strong melatonin immunoreactivity (IR) was seen in enterochromaffin (EC) cells partially co-localized with serotonin IR. Melatonin IR was also seen in pancreas islets. MT1 and MT2 IR were both found in the intestinal epithelium, in the submucosal and myenteric plexus, and in vessels in the GI tract as well as in pancreatic islets. MT1 and MT2 IR was strongest in the epithelium of the large intestine. In the other cell types, both MT2 gene expression and IR were generally elevated compared to MT1. Strong MT2, IR was noted in EC cells but not MT1 IR. Changes in gene expression that may result in reduced levels of melatonin were seen in relation to inflammation.
conclusionWidespread gastroenteropancreatic expression of melatonin and its receptors in the GI tract and pancreas is in agreement with the multiple roles ascribed to melatonin, which include regulation of gastrointestinal motility, epithelial permeability as well as enteropancreatic cross-talk with plausible impact on metabolic control.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.