Environmental chemicals and drugs can induce cardiotoxicity, mainly by generating free radicals. Reactive oxygen species play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiac tissue injury. This highlights a need for prevention of cardiotoxicity by scavenging free radicals. Melatonin has been shown to act as a protector against various conditions in which free radicals cause molecular and tissue injury. Some of the mechanisms by which melatonin operates as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant have been identified. The importance of endogenous melatonin in cardiovascular health and the benefits of melatonin supplementation in different cardiac pathophysiological disorders have been shown in a variety of model systems. Melatonin continues to attract attention for its potential therapeutic value for cardiovascular toxicity. The therapeutic potential of melatonin in treatment of cardiotoxicities caused by various chemicals along with suggested molecular mechanisms of action for melatonin is reviewed.
Background:
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is produced by endothelial cells, smooth
muscle cells, and macrophages. It is an important regulator of a complex humoral and cellular inflammatory response. IL1β is known to be implicated in the development of chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. We
aimed to review the effects of IL-1β antagonists in various cardiovascular disorders and to discuss their effectiveness in
such diseases.
Methods:
Major biomedical databases, including PubMed and Scopus, were searched for clinical studies regarding the
treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) using IL-1β antagonists.
Results: The drugs currently used in clinical trials are anakinra, the monoclonal antibodies canakinumab and
gevokizumab, and the soluble decoy receptor rilonacept. There are clinical trials and case reports of patients with CVD in
which anakinra administration, at the standard dose, has caused rapid clinical improvement and recovery in a few months.
Our comprehensive search revealed that IL-1β antagonists have beneficial effects in the treatment of various
cardiovascular disorders such as myocarditis, pericarditis, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction,
atherosclerosis, and Kawasaki disease.
Conclusion:
The present review article shows that IL-1β has a major role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular
disorders, its antagonists have beneficial effects in these conditions, and their use should be considered in future studies.
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