Melatonin inhibits the formation of chemically induced experimental encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis through modulation of T cell differentiation by suppressing of NF-κB activation in dendritic cells.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a severe complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Surgery is a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of complete intestinal obstruction. However, complete intestinal obstruction in long-term PD results in high mortality and morbidity rates after surgery. Immunopathogenesis participates in EPS formation: CD8, Th1, and Th17 cell numbers increased during the formation of EPS. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of melatonin may have beneficial effects on this EPS. In the present study, we determined that melatonin treatment significantly decreases the Th1 and Th17 cell populations in mice with EPS, decreases the production of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ, and increases the production of IL-10. The suppression of Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation by melatonin occurs through the inhibition of dendritic cell (DC) activation by affecting the initiation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in DCs. Our study suggests that melatonin has preventive potential against the formation of EPS in patients with PD.