Melatonin Attenuates AlCl3-Induced Apoptosis and Osteoblastic Differentiation Suppression by Inhibiting Oxidative

Zheng Cao1,2, Xue Geng1, Xinpeng Jiang3

  • 1Northeastern Science Inspection Station, China Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, NO. 600 Changjiang Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China.

Insights

Melatonin (MT) protects bone cells from aluminum toxicity by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis. This study shows MT preserves osteoblast function and differentiation, offering potential therapeutic benefits for aluminum-induced bone disease.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Aluminum (Al) exposure causes bone disease by inducing oxidative stress and inhibiting osteoblast function.
  • Melatonin (MT), a potent antioxidant, is investigated for its potential to counteract Al-induced bone damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Melatonin (MT) against Aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced dysfunction in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.
  • To evaluate MT's ability to mitigate oxidative stress and apoptosis in osteoblasts exposed to AlCl3.

Main Methods:

  • MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with varying concentrations of MT and AlCl3.
  • Assessed cell viability, apoptosis rates, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and type I collagen (COL-1) levels.
  • Measured reactive oxygen species (ROS), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione (GSH) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity.
  • Analyzed p53-dependent apoptosis markers (Caspase-3, p53, Bax, Bcl-2, Cytochrome c) and osteogenic differentiation markers (Runx2, Osterix, ALP, COL-1) at protein and mRNA levels.

Main Results:

  • MT treatment significantly reduced AlCl3-induced osteoblast apoptosis and increased cell viability, ALP activity, and COL-1 levels.
  • MT effectively attenuated AlCl3-induced oxidative stress by decreasing ROS and 8-OHdG levels, while increasing GSH levels and SOD activity.
  • MT protected osteoblasts by inhibiting p53-dependent apoptosis and preserving the expression of key osteogenic differentiation factors.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin (MT) demonstrates a significant protective effect against Aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced osteoblast dysfunction.
  • MT mitigates AlCl3 toxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing p53-dependent apoptosis pathways.
  • These findings suggest MT holds therapeutic potential for managing aluminum-induced bone diseases by preserving osteoblast health and function.

Related Concept Videos

Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption12:02

Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption

This manuscript presents a unique in vitro model of immunopurified human villous cytotrophoblast cells cultured under hypoxia/reoxygenation. This model is suitable to study the protective effects of promising treatments, such as melatonin, on pregnancy complications associated with increased oxidative stress and altered placental...
16.4K
Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress11:00

Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress

Bacterial pyomelanin production results in increased resistance to oxidative stress and virulence. We report on techniques that can be used to determine inhibition of pyomelanin production and assay the resulting increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress in bacteria, as well as determine antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration...
8.7K
Real Time Detection of In Vitro Tumor Cell Apoptosis Induced by CD8+ T Cells to Study Immune Suppressive Functions of Tumor-infiltrating Myeloid Cells09:57

Real Time Detection of In Vitro Tumor Cell Apoptosis Induced by CD8+ T Cells to Study Immune Suppressive Functions of Tumor-infiltrating Myeloid Cells

We describe here a protocol to investigate cytotoxicity of pre-activated CD8+ T cells against cancer cells by detecting apoptotic cancer cells via real-time microscopy. This protocol can investigate mechanisms behind myeloid cell-induced T cell suppression and evaluate compounds aimed at replenishing T cells via blockade of immune suppressive myeloid...
23.4K
Cell Cycle-specific Measurement of γH2AX and Apoptosis After Genotoxic Stress by Flow Cytometry08:21

Cell Cycle-specific Measurement of γH2AX and Apoptosis After Genotoxic Stress by Flow Cytometry

The presented method combines the quantitative analysis of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), cell cycle distribution and apoptosis to enable cell cycle-specific evaluation of DSB induction and repair as well as the consequences of repair...
14.1K
Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish Embryos11:05

Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish Embryos

Here we report a protocol to measure oxidative stress in living zebrafish embryos. This procedure allows reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection in both whole embryo tissues and single-cell populations. This protocol will accomplish both qualitative and quantitative analyses.
38.1K
Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis08:34

Mechanism of Regulation of Adipocyte Numbers in Adult Organisms Through Differentiation and Apoptosis Homeostasis

Adipose tissue (AT) can influence whole body homeostasis, therefore understanding the molecular mechanisms of adipocyte differentiation and function is of importance. We provide a protocol for gaining new insights into these processes by analyzing adipocyte homeostasis, differentiation and hypoxia exposure as a model for induced adipocyte...
15.7K