Melatonin is a chronobiotic hormone, which can regulate human diseases like cancer, atherosclerosis, respiratory disorders, and microbial infections by regulating redox system. Melatonin exhibits innate immunomodulation by communicating with immune system and influencing neutrophils to fight infections and inflammation. However, sustaining redox homeostasis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in neutrophils are critical during chemotaxis, oxidative burst, phagocytosis, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Therefore, endogenous antioxidant glutathione (GSH) redox cycle is highly vital in regulating neutrophil functions. Reduced intracellular GSH levels and glutathione reductase (GR) activity in the neutrophils during clinical conditions like autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, diabetes, and microbial infections lead to dysfunctional neutrophils. Therefore, we hypothesized that redox modulators like melatonin can protect neutrophil health and functions under GSH and GR activity–deficient conditions. We demonstrate the dual role of melatonin, wherein it protects neutrophils from oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis by reducing ROS generation; in contrast, it restores neutrophil functions like phagocytosis, degranulation, and NETosis in GSH and GR activity–deficient neutrophils by regulating ROS levels both in vitro and in vivo. Melatonin mitigates LPS‐induced neutrophil dysfunctions by rejuvenating GSH redox system, specifically GR activity by acting as a parallel redox system. Our results indicate that melatonin could be a potential auxiliary therapy to treat immune dysfunction and microbial infections, including virus, under chronic disease conditions by restoring neutrophil functions. Further, melatonin could be a promising immune system booster to fight unprecedented pandemics like the current COVID‐19. However, further studies are indispensable to address the clinical usage of melatonin.
Platelets are known for their indispensable role in haemostasis and
thrombosis. During oxidative stress, alteration in platelet function
contributes towards multiple health complications. To date, various
synthesized compounds have shown antiplatelet activity however, their
uses are still ambiguous as these compounds display multiple side
effects. Commercially used curcumin is a mixture of curcumin, demethoxy
curcumin and bisdemethoxy curcumin. Majority of the studies demonstrate
the effect of crude curcumin lacking specific understanding on the
effect of pure curcumin. Therefore, in this study, curcumin was purified
from crude curcumin mixture and examined against oxidative
stress-induced platelet apoptosis and activation. Purified curcumin
restored the AAPH-induced platelet apoptotic markers like reactive
oxygen species, intracellular calcium level, mitochondrial membrane
potential, cardiolipin peroxidation, cytochrome c release from
mitochondria to the cytosol, and phosphatidyl serine externalization.
Further, it inhibited agonists-induced platelet activation and
aggregation, demonstrating its antiplatelet activity. Western blot
analysis confirms the protective effect of purified curcumin against
oxidative stress-induced platelet apoptosis and activation via down
regulation of MAPKs protein activation including ASK1, JNK, p-38. This
suggests that purified curcumin could be a potential therapeutic
bioactive molecule to treat oxidative stress-induced platelet
activation, apoptosis, and associated complications.
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