ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of melatonin on the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cell and the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were treated with different concentrations of melatonin ( 0. 1, 1, 2 and 4 mmol/L ) for 24 hours, and the changes in the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells were detected by scratch test and Transwell assay. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase ( MMP) -2 and MMP-9 in the supernatant were detected by ELISA kit. The changes of MMP-2, MMP-9, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1 ) and CD44 expressions were detected by using Real-time PCR. The protein expressions of ICAM-1, CD44, p-P38, P38 and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase ( p-MKK) 3/6 were detected by Western blotting. Results Melatonin inhibited the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells in a dose- dependent manner. Compared with the blank control group, melatonin reduced the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, ICAM-1 and CD44, and inhibited the expressions of p-P38, P38 and p-MKK3/6 in gastric cancer cells. Conclusion Melatonin inhibits the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by inhibiting the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, ICAM-1 and CD44. Inhibition may be related to the p38MAPK signaling pathway.