Pro-Oxidant Effect of Melatonin in Tumour Leucocytes: Relation with its Cytotoxic and Pro-Apoptotic Effects

摘要: Melatonin has many effects on a wide range of physiological functions and is involved in number pathological events including oncostatic neoplastic processes. The tissue protective actions melatonin are attributed to its well-known antioxidant activity though might also exert pro-oxidant effects, particularly tumour cells. This study evaluated the cell lines human haematopoietic origin. treatment able stimulate production intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), as revealed by increase rhodamine-123 fluorescence, which was associated with significant cytotoxicity activation caspase activities. Furthermore, pre-treatment cells antioxidants, such N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), trolox, PEG-catalase reduced glutathione (GSH), reversed both ROS production, activation. action may assist limiting growth.