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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Melatonin inhibits 17β-estradiol-induced migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in normal and endometriotic endometrial epithelial cells

Authors: Shasha Qi, Lei Yan, Zhao Liu, Yu-lan Mu, Mingjiang Li, Xingbo Zhao, Zi-Jiang Chen, Hui Zhang

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Melatonin is a potential therapeutic agent for endometriosis, but its molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in endometriotic endometrial epithelial cells and explored the pathway that might be involved.

Methods

This hospital-based study included 60 women of reproductive age using the endometrium for immunohistochemistry, 6 women of reproductive age undergoing bilateral tubal ligation and 6 patients with endometriosis for isolation of endometrial epithelial cells or subsequent analysis, respectively. We examined the expression of Notch1/Numb signaling and EMT markers by immunohistochemistry analysis and western blot analysis, the invasion and migration of endometrial epithelial cells by transwell assays, and the cell proliferation by CCK8 assays.

Results

Compared with normal endometrium, the endometriotic eutopic endometrium showed increased expression of Notch1, Slug, Snail, and N-cadherin, and decreased expression of E-cadherin and Numb. Melatonin or Notch inhibition by specific inhibitor blocked 17β-estradiol-induced cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT-related markers in both normal and endometriotic epithelial cells.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that aberrant expression of Notch1/Numb signaling and the EMT is present in endometriotic endometrium. Melatonin may block 17β-estradiol-induced migration, invasion and EMT in normal and endometriotic epithelial cells by upregulating Numb expression and decreasing the activity of the Notch signaling pathway.
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Metadata
Title
Melatonin inhibits 17β-estradiol-induced migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in normal and endometriotic endometrial epithelial cells
Authors
Shasha Qi
Lei Yan
Zhao Liu
Yu-lan Mu
Mingjiang Li
Xingbo Zhao
Zi-Jiang Chen
Hui Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0375-5

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