title: In vitro effects of melatonin on cell proliferation in a colon adenocarcinoma line.
abstract: The effect of melatonin on inhibition of cell growth was studied in CT-26, a murine colon carcinoma-derived cell line. Cells growing in exponential phase were exposed to low (10(-7)-10(-10) M) and high doses (1, 2 and 3 x 10(-3) M) of melatonin during 24 h. Synthesis of DNA was measured by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation. There was no effect at low doses, but a statistically significant correlation was found between the decrease in DNA synthesis and the dose of melatonin used (r = -0.52, P < 0.001). This implied the following percentages of inhibition: 1 mM, 22%; 2 mM, 25%; 3 mM, 47%. Potential cell membrane damage by high doses of melatonin was investigated by lactate dehydrogenase measurement and no significant levels were observed. Analysis with a single saturation technique showed no detectable oestradiol receptors in this cell type; therefore, we can assume that the effects occurring with the addition of melatonin were not mediated by modulation of this hormone on oestrogen receptors. The decreases in cell growth were attributed to a moderate, but significant antiproliferative action of melatonin on this non-hormone-dependent cell line.
authors.affiliation: Centro Investigaciones Metabólicas y Biologia Molecular (CIBBIM), Hospital General d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. farriol@hg.vhebron.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farriol
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Venereo
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Orta
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Segovia-Silvestre
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D008550:Melatonin