title: Melatonin prevents apoptosis induced by UV-B treatment in U937 cell line.
abstract: Melatonin influences circadian rhythms and acts as antioxidant and free radical scavenger. UV irradiation triggers multiple cellular events which lead to cell death, in particular to apoptosis; this process involves reactive oxygen species. Apoptotic machinery involves several pathways, in which mitochondria play crucial roles. In this work we have evaluated by means of cytometric, biochemical and ultrastructural approaches, if incubation of U937 promonocytic leukemia cells with melatonin may affect apoptotic behavior induced by UV-B. The cell line was treated with 1 mm melatonin before and after UV-B exposure. Melatonin pretreatment significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells, as revealed by FITC Annexin-V and propidium iodide assays (P < 0.005), as well as attenuated mitochondria alterations, as shown by ultrastructural morphology, Mito Tracker and JC-1 staining, and cytochrome c (cyt c) release (P < 0.005). On the contrary, incubation with melatonin after UV-B exposure significantly protect U937 cells from UV-B induced alterations, showing a possible delay of the apoptotic machinery (as revealed by the presence of earlier stages of apoptosis and significant cyt c release). Our results suggest that, in our experimental model, melatonin may play a role as noncytotoxic anti-apoptotic compound and, at least in part, may protect U937 cells from UV-B induced mitochondria dysfunction/damage.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze Morfologiche, Universita Studi di Urbino 'Carlo Bo', Urbino, Italy. luchetti@uniurb.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luchetti
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canonico
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Curci
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battistelli
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mannello
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarzia
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falcieri
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020298:U937 Cells; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin