Abstract

Background & Aim: Melatonin is produced from different sources in the body. In some of the previous studies, the effects of oncostatic melatonin have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of melatonin on K562 cells as a model for chronic myeloid leukemia.

Methods: In this experimental study, 6 × 10⁴ cells of K562 cell line were treated with melatonin for 24 hours with different concentrations of 0, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 μM. The morphological changes of the treated cells were evaluated by inverse optical microscopy in comparison with the control sample. The effects of inhibition of melatonin growth and fecundity were measured using MTT (dimethyl thiazole diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and neutrally. The Wright-Gimsa staining was used to evaluate the distinction. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis statistical test.

Results: There was with other concentrations in this cell line. The highest inhibitory effect of cellular growth was observed in high concentrations of melatonin. Maximum cytotoxic effect of melatonin on K562 cell line was observed at 200 μm. However, at 50 μm concentration, the effect of cytotoxicity of melatonin was minimal (p <0.05).

Conclusion: Melatonin has the potential to inhibit proliferation of K562 cancer cells in vitro.