Melatonin modulates red-ox state and decreases viability of rat pancreatic stellate cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 14;10(1):6352. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63433-6.

Abstract

In this work we have studied the effects of pharmacological concentrations of melatonin (1 µM-1 mM) on pancreatic stellate cells (PSC). Cell viability was analyzed by AlamarBlue test. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was monitored following CM-H2DCFDA and MitoSOX Red-derived fluorescence. Total protein carbonyls and lipid peroxidation were analyzed by HPLC and spectrophotometric methods respectively. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ψm) was monitored by TMRM-derived fluorescence. Reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) levels of glutathione were determined by fluorescence techniques. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect the expression of Nrf2-regulated antioxidant enzymes. Determination of SOD activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were carried out by colorimetric methods, whereas expression of SOD was analyzed by Western blotting and RT-qPCR. The results show that melatonin decreased PSC viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Melatonin evoked a concentration-dependent increase in ROS production in the mitochondria and in the cytosol. Oxidation of proteins was detected in the presence of melatonin, whereas lipids oxidation was not observed. Depolarization of ψm was noted with 1 mM melatonin. A decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio was observed, that depended on the concentration of melatonin used. A concentration-dependent increase in the expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalytic subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase, catalase, NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase 1 and heme oxygenase-1 was detected in cells incubated with melatonin. Finally, decreases in the expression and in the activity of superoxide dismutase were observed. We conclude that pharmacological concentrations melatonin modify the redox state of PSC, which might decrease cellular viability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Catalase / genetics
  • Cell Survival / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Glutathione / genetics
  • Glutathione Disulfide / genetics
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / genetics
  • Humans
  • Melatonin / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / genetics
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects*
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / drug effects
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • Nfe2l2 protein, rat
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Catalase
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Glutathione
  • Melatonin
  • Glutathione Disulfide