Participation of Ca2+-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II in the Antidepressant-Like Effects of Melatonin.
Molecular pharmacology August 16, 2024 Armida Miranda-Riestra, Montserrat G Cercós, Citlali Trueta et al. 4 citations
Melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles, also shows antidepressant-like effects in animal studies. These effects appear to involve activation of an enzyme called calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), which plays roles in learning, memory, and brain cell adaptability. Patients with major depression have lower nighttime melatonin levels. This review describes evidence that melatonin may work partly through CaMKII to support neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to form new connections—and that combining melatonin with other antidepressants like ketamine could enhance these benefits.