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Melatonin Attenuates AlCl3-Induced Apoptosis and Osteoblastic Differentiation Suppression by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress in MC3T3-E1 Cells

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Abstract

Aluminum (Al) inhibits osteoblast-mediated bone formation by oxidative stress, resulting in Al-induced bone disease. Melatonin (MT) has received extensive attention due to its antioxidant and maintenance of bone health effect. To evaluate the protective effect and mechanism of MT on AlCl3-induced osteoblast dysfunction, MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with MT (100 μM) and/or AlCl3 (8 μM). First, MT alleviated AlCl3-induced osteoblast dysfunction, presenting as the reduced apoptosis rate as well as increased cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and type I collagen (COL-1) level. Then, MT significantly attenuated AlCl3-induced oxidative stress, presenting as the reduced reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine levels as well as increased glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity. Finally, MT protected MC3T3-E1 cells against p53-dependent apoptosis and differentiation suppression, as assessed by Caspase-3 activity, protein levels of p53, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma gene 2 (Bcl-2), cytosolic Cytochrome c, Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and Osterix, as well as the mRNA levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Runx2, Osterix, ALP, and COL-1. Overall, our findings demonstrate MT attenuates AlCl3-induced apoptosis and osteoblastic differentiation suppression by inhibiting oxidative stress in MC3T3-E1 cells.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation Project (31872530), the “Young Talent” Project of Northeast Agricultural University (18QC44), the Earmarked Fund For China Agriculture Research System (CARS-35), and the Open Project Program of Northeastern Science Inspection Station, China Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Biology (DY201709).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northeastern Science Inspection Station, China Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, NO. 600 Changjiang Street, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, China

    Zheng Cao, Xue Geng, Xiang Gao, Kexiang Liu & Yanfei Li

  2. Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education, Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China

    Zheng Cao

  3. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China

    Xinpeng Jiang

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  1. Zheng Cao
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Correspondence to Yanfei Li.

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Cao, Z., Geng, X., Jiang, X. et al. Melatonin Attenuates AlCl3-Induced Apoptosis and Osteoblastic Differentiation Suppression by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress in MC3T3-E1 Cells. Biol Trace Elem Res 196, 214–222 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01893-2

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