INFLUENCE OF MELATONIN ON GLYCAN PATTERN AND ITS ROLE IN TUMORAL AGGRESSIVENESS

DITAMO, Y; IRAZOQUI, FJ

Buenos Aires

Simposio; Glycobiology Symposium GlycoAR 2014; 2014

Instituto Leloir

Glycosylation pattern often changes during cancer development resulting in the expression of tumour-associated carbohydrate antigens. Aberrant expression of glycan may affect ligand-receptor interactions and interfere with regulation of cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. O-glycans of cell surface-bound mucins modulate the interactions with the environment and, depending on its structure; mucins can have pro- or anti-adhesive properties. Melatonin is a chronobiotic neurohormone widely studied for cancer treatment. Anticancer properties of melatonin seem to result from its potent antioxidant, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative capacities but the mechanisms of action are not fully understood. We investigate the effect of melatonin on mucin-type O-glycan expression of B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. Flow cytometry analysis of cells showed changes in glycan pattern after melatonin treatment. Using different concentrations of melatonin we observed a diminution of T antigen and increased expression of more complex glycans. Melatonin also affected migratory capacity of cells measured in scratch assays. Finally, B16F10 cells treated with melatonin before implantation in C57 mice showed impaired capacity to form tumours and the animals implanted with pretreated cells showed better survival rates. Results indicate that anticancer effects of melatonin could be related to an alteration in O-glycan pattern attenuating the malignancy of B16F10 cells.