Melatonins Effect on Telomeres May Impact AMD

TEHRAN, IranMelatonin may prevent age-related telomere shortening in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), possibly fighting the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a researcher from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Med Hypotheses. ePub 2010 Sep 28. DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2010.08.036). It has been suggested that antioxidants may fight shortening of telomeres, sections of repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes. As the ability of RPE cells to replicate and fight injury is compromised with aging and cumulative oxidative stress, antioxidants such as melatonin with the ability to work in both lipid and water mediums could address the situation.

Reza Rastmanesh, Ph.D., cited a previous clinical trial in with 3 mg/d of melatonin given to AMD patients for three months reduced pathologic changes in the macula. Rastmanesh hypothesized melatonin may act not only as an antioxidant but also down-regulate the activity of telomerases, which break down RPE cell telomeres. Further, melatonin could be used to prevent telomere shortening in RPE while also exerting antioxidant effects.