The neurohormone melatonin inhibits cytokine, mitogen and ionizing radiation induced NF-κB

N. Mohan, K. Sadeghi, R. J. Reiter, M. L. Meltz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

171 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently, the neurohormone melatonin was found to be a potent endogenous hydroxyl radical scavenger. Since the activation of an important transcriptional regulator, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) involves free radicals as second messengers, we investigated whether melatonin alters NF-κB expression if present during treatment of HeLa S3 cells with known activators. The results show that upon treatment of HeLa S3 cells with tumor necrosis factor-α or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or with ionizing radiation, there is a profound induction of NF-κB binding activity. If present at the time of treatment, exogenously added melatonin, at a concentration as low as 10 μM, was found to inhibit the activation of NF-κB by these agents. This result leads to the hypothesis that melatonin can play a role in many physiological functions through its modulation of NF-κB (and possibly other) transcriptional regulators.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1063-1070
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemistry and Molecular Biology International
Volume37
Issue number6
StatePublished - Dec 1 1995

Keywords

  • Hela S3 cells
  • Ionizing radiation
  • Melatonin
  • NF-κB
  • Transcription factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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