Treatment of ebola and other infectious diseases: melatonin “goes viral”

Abstract

This review summarizes published reports on the utility of melatonin as a treatment for virus-mediated diseases. Of special note are the data related to the role of melatonin in influencing Ebola virus disease. This infection and deadly condition has no effective treatment and the published works documenting the ability of melatonin to attenuate the severity of viral infections generally and Ebola infection specifically are considered. The capacity of melatonin to prevent one of the major complications of an Ebola infection, i.e., the hemorrhagic shock syndrome, which often contributes to the high mortality rate, is noteworthy. Considering the high safety profile of melatonin, the fact that it is easily produced, inexpensive and can be self-administered makes it an attractive potential treatment for Ebola virus pathology.

Melatonin: Roles in influenza, Covid‐19, and other viral infections

“…Allowing for such variability in virus effects, melatonin has emerged as a top candidate for protection against an array of different viruses, including the coronavirus. [3][4][5] This would seem to arise from the close evolution of melatonin within the emerging mitochondria in the first single-cellular organsims, allowing melatonin to be intimately associated with mitochondrial function, and thereby with immune system regulation. 6 The interactions of our "bacterial-driven" coexistence with viruses have provided a "War of the Worlds" from which plant and animal evolution have emerged, and in which evolution has acted to tolerate and limit rather than annihilate.…”

Possible Protective Role of Melatonin in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Neurodevelopmental Pathologies

“…Virus-and cytokine-storm-driven control of the pineal and mitochondrial melatonergic pathway therefore regulates mitochondrial and immune/glia responses, besides an increased gut permeability and disbiosis mediated by decreased levels of the short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, and increases circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 4,13 The end result is greater viral replication and host symptom severity. The counteracting effects of butyrate are partly mediated via an increase in the mitochondrial melatonergic pathway, showing interactions of the gut microbiome with melatonin.…”

“…37 Proinflammatory actions enhance the resistance against pathogens. 4 In human colostrum, melatonin produced by immune-competent cells acts in an autocrine manner, enhancing the clearance of pathogens by increasing phagocyte efficiency. 38 Melatonin reduces chronic and acute inflammation 39 by modulation of both pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines.…”

“…In this way, several authors have advocated for the use of high oral doses of the neurohormone melatonin. 3,4 COVID-19 is caused by a positive-sense ribonucleic acid virus named the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is associated with mortality rates that can exceed 6%. Older patients with comorbid chronic conditions have been associ-ated with even higher mortality rates.…”

“…6,7 Those sequelae are similar to that reported in Ebola virus patients. 4 Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor that SARS-CoV-2 uses for penetration into the cells. 8 SARS-CoV-2 exacerbation of animal lung injury by decreasing ACE2 is reversed by angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors (ACEI) have been shown to induce upregulation of ACE2 expression.…”