Melatonin inhibits osteosarcoma stem cells by suppressing SOX9-mediated signaling

Publication date: 15 August 2018Source: Life Sciences, Volume 207Author(s): Hao Qu, Yue Xue, Wenwen Lian, Cong Wang, Jia He, Qihong Fu, Lijia Zhong, Nong Lin, Lihua Lai, Zhaoming Ye, Qingqing WangAbstractAimsMelatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has been reported to suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells in some types of cancer. However, the effects of melatonin on the osteosarcoma stem cells, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of osteosarcoma are still not clear. The present study was conducted to dissect the activity of melatonin on the osteosarcoma stem cells and the underlying mechanisms.Main methodsMTT, wound healing, transwell assay and western blotting were conducted to determine the effect of melatonin on osteosarcoma cell invasion and migration and downregulation of SOX9-mediated signaling. Tumor spheroid assay and FACS analysis were performed to analyze the inhibition of the osteosarcoma stem cells. In vivo model for tumor formation and metastasis from single cell clone was used to evaluate the suppression of osteosarcoma stem cells by melatonin.Key findingsWe demonstrated that melatonin potently suppresses the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, melatonin significantly inhibits the sarcosphere formation of osteosarcoma stem cells and regulates EMT markers of osteosarcoma cells. In vivo mice model showed that melatonin significantly inhibits the initiation and metastasis of osteosarcoma. SOX9 is the k...
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research