Melatonin treatment induces apoptosis through regulating the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells

  • Authors:
    • Weimin Li
    • Zhonglue Wang
    • Yina Chen
    • Kaijing Wang
    • Ting Lu
    • Fei Ying
    • Mengdi Fan
    • Zhiyin Li
    • Jiansheng Wu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 28, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.5785
  • Pages: 2737-2744
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Melatonin, which is synthesized by the pineal gland and released into the blood, exhibits antitumor properties. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects, particularly in stomach cancer, remain unknown. In the present study, the effect of melatonin on the nuclear factor (NF)‑κB signaling pathway and the mitogen‑activated protein kinase signaling pathway, involving p38 and c‑Jun‑N‑terminal kinase (JNK), were investigated in SGC7901 gastric cancer cells. In addition, the effect of melatonin on the survival, migration and apoptosis of these cells was investigated in vitro in order to evaluate the use of melatonin for the treatment of gastric cancer. The results of the present study revealed that melatonin decreased the viability and migration of SGC7901 cells. Furthermore, melatonin induced apoptosis. Melatonin was identified to elevate the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)‑p38 and p‑JNK protein, and decrease the expression level of nucleic p‑p65. These results suggest that the protein levels of p65, p38 and JNK are associated with the survival of SGC7901 cells following treatment with melatonin. The optimal concentration of melatonin was demonstrated to be 2 mM, which significantly induced apoptosis following a 24 h treatment period. These findings suggest that conflicting growth signals in cells may inhibit the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of gastric cancer. Therefore, adjunct therapy would be required to improve the efficacy of melatonin in the treatment of cancer.

Related Articles

Journal Cover

April-2017
Volume 13 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Li W, Wang Z, Chen Y, Wang K, Lu T, Ying F, Fan M, Li Z and Wu J: Melatonin treatment induces apoptosis through regulating the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells. Oncol Lett 13: 2737-2744, 2017
APA
Li, W., Wang, Z., Chen, Y., Wang, K., Lu, T., Ying, F. ... Wu, J. (2017). Melatonin treatment induces apoptosis through regulating the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells. Oncology Letters, 13, 2737-2744. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.5785
MLA
Li, W., Wang, Z., Chen, Y., Wang, K., Lu, T., Ying, F., Fan, M., Li, Z., Wu, J."Melatonin treatment induces apoptosis through regulating the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells". Oncology Letters 13.4 (2017): 2737-2744.
Chicago
Li, W., Wang, Z., Chen, Y., Wang, K., Lu, T., Ying, F., Fan, M., Li, Z., Wu, J."Melatonin treatment induces apoptosis through regulating the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells". Oncology Letters 13, no. 4 (2017): 2737-2744. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.5785