Prolonged Administration of Melatonin Ameliorates Liver Phenotypes in Cholestatic Murine Model

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterized by biliary senescence and hepatic fibrosis. Melatonin exerts its effects by interacting with MT1/MT2 melatonin receptors. Short-term (1 wk) melatonin treatment reduces a ductular reaction and liver fibrosis in bile duct-ligated rats by down-regulation of MT1 and clock genes, and in Mdr2-/- mice by decreased miR200b-dependent angiogenesis. We aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of melatonin on liver phenotype that may be mediated by changes in MT1/clock genes/miR200b/maspin/glutathione-S transferase (GST) signaling