Review maps local melatonin signaling across organs
A review of tissue-level melatonin research describes possible biological roles while emphasizing scarce human data and unresolved questions about measurement.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
This review concerns melatonin produced within organs and its local signaling roles. It describes a body of biological research, with the largest cluster focused on immune regulation. The findings suggest questions for further investigation, but they do not establish that taking melatonin supplements improves organ function or treats disease.
The authors identify differences between research models, scarce human data, and a need for better assays. Abstract-only access also leaves the individual studies and their results unavailable for assessment.
What the review examined
Researchers synthesized original studies on melatonin signaling in the pineal gland and elsewhere in the body. Topics included immune regulation, reproductive tissues, the gut, skin, and other organs, showing how widely this biological question has been investigated.
What the evidence can support
The synthesis was narrative, so the abstract presents a map of research areas rather than a pooled treatment effect. The authors call for more human mechanistic work before potential medical applications can be assessed confidently.
The original publication
Physiological relevance of autocrine melatonin signaling in pineal and extrapineal sites: a systematic review.
Ndinganire G, Ntamukunzi G, Alagbonsi AI
Function (Oxf) · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41552877
- Record checked
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