title: Melatonin attenuates TGFβ1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lung alveolar epithelial cells.
abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common interstitial lung disease. However, the pathogenesis remains to be fully elucidated. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, it has a strong antioxidant effect, and exerts an anti-fibrosis effect. Whether melatonin attenuates pulm -onary fibrosis by inhibiting epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) requires further research. The present study aimed to investigate whether melatonin prevents transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF‑β1)‑induced EMT and underlying signaling pathways using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. The results demonstrated that melatonin inhibits EMT in A549 cells, and the Wnt/β‑catenin and Smad2/3 signaling pathways are involved in the EMT of the A549 cell line as they were suppressed by melatonin. The present study indicates that melatonin inhibited TGFβ1‑induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in the A549 cell line and may potentially be useful in the treatment of IPF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yi-Tian
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Environment and Non‑Communicable Disease Research Center, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D051785:Smad Proteins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D008550:Melatonin