Evaluation of the effects of melatonin-treated RAW macrophage cells in A-375 melanoma cell line

Abstract

Melanoma is one of the most complex and aggressive cancers in the world. Although this malignancy usually arises from skin melanocytes, it can also arise from mucosal surfaces, such as the mucosa of the genital and gastrointestinal tracts, the oral cavity, and the eyes. Standard treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are not effective enough to increase the survival of melanoma patients. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in the growth of human tumors. Many studies reported a significant relationship between TAM infiltration and poor prognosis of melanoma. Therefore, it is very important to search for new therapies or complementary therapies that exert anticancer actions. Melatonin, as an anti-cancer agent, is secreted by the pineal gland at night. It is known as the regulator of seasonal and circadian biorhythms of day and night. In addition, the physiological functions of melatonin include immunomodulation and tumor growth inhibitory effects. The anti-tumor activity of melatonin in the treatment of cancer has been well demonstrated. Several studies have shown that melatonin can inhibit the growth of tumors. In addition, melatonin has been reported to have effects on the survival time of cancer patients. To investigate the beneficial roles of melatonin in the treatment of skin cancer, based on available studies, this review evaluated the current knowledge of the effects of melatonin on A-375 melanoma cell line. Materials and Methods: RAW cells were cultured in a 24-well plate for 24 hours. Cells were treated with concentrations of zero, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 μM melatonin for 24 hours. The amount of apoptosis and necrosis in these cells was evaluated by staining with acridine orange and ethidium bromide. Results: After colonizing the RAW cell line and investigating the effect of melatonin on these cells, we noticed a change in the number of cells and differentiation in the cells according to the concentration of melatonin. We determined the growth of this cell line after 24 hours in the concentration. In different concentrations of melatonin, the density of the A-375 cell line is different, and with the increase in the concentration of melatonin, the number and density of the A-375 line decreases. Also, melatonin concentration-dependent effects on RAW cell growth were also evident, and with increasing melatonin concentration, the number of cells decreased.