Melatonin inhibits osteosarcoma stem cells by suppressing SOX9-mediated signaling

Melatonin (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.

MTT, 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.

We 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 key transcription factor mediating the effect of melatonin. Melatonin inhibited of cancer stem cell by down-regulation of SOX9-mediated signaling pathway in osteosarcoma.

Collectively, these results deepen the understanding of the biological functions of melatonin and provide new insights for the intervention of osteosarcoma stem cells.