Melatonin improves influenza virus infection-induced acute exacerbation of COPD by suppressing macrophage M1 polarization and apoptosis.

These findings suggested that melatonin inhibited IAV infection, improved lung function and lung damages of AECOPD via suppressing IL-1β/STAT1-driven macrophage M1 polarization and apoptosis in a MTs-dependent manner. Melatonin may be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for influenza virus infection-induced AECOPD.