Mitochondrial Quality Control and Melatonin: A Strategy Against Myocardial Injury

Nima Ghavamikia; Faranak Mehrnoosh; Farshad Zare; Payam Ali-Khiavi; Ali Sinehsepehr; Yasaman Ghodsi Boushehri; Milad Vahedinezhad; Elham Abdollahi; Ahmed Hjazi; Siamak Aminnezhad; Hossein Saffarfar; Sina Hamzehzadeh; Mehrdad Nourizadeh; Sepideh KarkonShayan

doi:10.1002/jbt.70194

Mitochondrial Quality Control and Melatonin: A Strategy Against Myocardial Injury

J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2025 Mar;39(3):e70194. doi: 10.1002/jbt.70194.

Authors

Nima Ghavamikia¹, Faranak Mehrnoosh², Farshad Zare³, Payam Ali-Khiavi³, Ali Sinehsepehr⁴, Yasaman Ghodsi Boushehri⁵, Milad Vahedinezhad⁶, Elham Abdollahi⁶, Ahmed Hjazi⁷, Siamak Aminnezhad^{8

9}, Hossein Saffarfar^{8

9}, Sina Hamzehzadeh³, Mehrdad Nourizadeh¹⁰, Sepideh KarkonShayan¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Cardiovascular Research Institute, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
³ Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
⁵ Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁶ Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁷ Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Cardiovascular Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
⁹ Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
¹⁰ Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
¹¹ Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

PMID: 40009050
DOI: 10.1002/jbt.70194

Abstract

Melatonin exhibits various biological functions, including regulation of circadian and endocrine rhythms, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Aging and damaged mitochondria are major sources of oxidative stress (OS), and mitochondrial quality control (MQC) is crucial for maintaining normal mitochondrial function. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major complication that can arise during reperfusion therapy for coronary heart disease. However, effective intervention strategies are currently lacking. Mitochondrial dysfunction and OS are considered central mechanisms of myocardial reperfusion injury, with mitochondrial-targeted interventions being a potential treatment direction. Recent studies have shown that melatonin improves mitochondrial structure and function through multiple pathways. This review discusses the mechanisms by which melatonin ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, focusing on MQC, and explores its potential applications in the prevention and treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Keywords: melatonin; melatonin receptors; mitochondrial quality control; myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion injury.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antioxidants* / pharmacology
Antioxidants* / therapeutic use
Humans
Melatonin* / pharmacology
Melatonin* / therapeutic use
Mitochondria, Heart* / drug effects
Mitochondria, Heart* / metabolism
Mitochondria, Heart* / pathology
Myocardial Reperfusion Injury* / drug therapy
Myocardial Reperfusion Injury* / metabolism
Myocardial Reperfusion Injury* / pathology
Myocardial Reperfusion Injury* / prevention & control
Oxidative Stress / drug effects

Substances

Melatonin
Antioxidants

Grants and funding

We would like to thank the Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran for their assistance in this research.