title: Can melatonin delay oxidative damage of human erythrocytes during prolonged incubation?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Melatonin (MEL) is an effective antioxidant in numerous experimental models, both in vitro and in vivo. However, it should be stressed that there are also papers reporting limited antioxidative activity of MEL or even giving evidence for its pro-oxidative properties. In the present paper we investigated the influence of MEL on the oxidative damage of human erythrocytes during prolonged incubation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human erythrocytes suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4 were incubated at 37ºC either in absence or presence of melatonin at concentration range 0.02 mM-3 mM for up to 96 hrs. The influence of MEL on erythrocyte damage was assessed on the basis of the intensity of intracellular oxidation processes (the oxidation of HbO₂, GSH, fluorescent label DCFH₂) as well as damage to the plasma membrane (lipid peroxidation, the potassium leakage) and the kinetics of hemolysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prolonged incubation of erythrocytes induced a progressive destruction of erythrocytes. Melatonin prevented lipid peroxidation and hemolysis whereas the oxidation of HbO₂ and DCFH₂ was enhanced by melatonin at concentrations higher than 0.6 mM. In the case of erythrocytes incubated with 3 mM of MEL, the hemolysis rate constant (0.0498±0.0039 H%•h⁻¹) was 50% lower than that of the control while the HbO₂ oxidation rate constants were about 1.4 and 1.5 times higher for 1.5 and 3 mM of MEL, respectively. Melatonin had no influence on the oxidation of GSH and the potassium leakage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probably, MEL can stabilize the erythrocyte membrane due to interaction with lipids, thus prolonging the existence of cells. On the contrary, in the presence of MEL the accelerated oxidation of HbO₂ and generally, increased oxidative stress was observed in erythrocytes. Pro- and antioxidative properties of melatonin depend on the type of cells, redox state, as well as experimental conditions.
authors: Department of Molecular Biophysics, Division of Radiobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. krokosz@biol.uni.lodz.pl
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Krokosz
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Grebowski
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Szweda-Lewandowska
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rodacka
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Puchala
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008550:Melatonin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000737:chemistry; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D008706:Methemoglobin; D005978:Glutathione; D008550:Melatonin; D011188:Potassium; D010100:Oxygen