ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of melatonin on the proliferation activity of murine foregastic carcinomac ( MFC) cells via melatonin membrane receptors MT 2 and its relationship with the signaling pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinases ( MAPKs), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase ( PI3K)-Akt.Methods Using siRNA technology to silence MT2 expression, we examined the ability of melatonin to inhibit the proliferation activity of MFC cells and its influence on the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 and Akt.Results We found two interesting effects of SiRNA-mediated silencing of MT2 expression.Firstly, it significantly antagonized the inhibitory effect of melatonin on the proliferation activity of MFC cells .Secondly , it partially blocked the inhibitory effect of melatonin on the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 and Akt.Conclusion Our results suggest that melatonin can inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 and Akt via MT2 receptors , thereby inhibiting the proliferation of gastric cancer cells .