Melatonin regulates CRE-dependent gene transcription underlying osteoblast proliferation by activating Src and PKA in parallel.

Several studies have indicated a relationship between melatonin and idiopathic scoliosis, including our previous work which demonstrated that melatonin can inhibit osteoblast proliferation; however, the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we utilized a MTT assay to show that melatonin significantly reduces osteoblast proliferation in a concentration-and time-dependent manner. Through a combination of techniques, including real-time PCR, MTT assays, immunofluorescence, and luciferase assays, we confirmed that melatonin-induced changes in phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) reduced transcriptional activity in a melatonin receptor-dependent manner.

Cathepsin D protects renal tubular cells from damage induced by high glucose independent of its enzymatic activity.

Although glomerular and vascular damage have been considered the main characteristics of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), accumulating data now indicate that tubular atrophy also plays a major role. Cathepsin D (CatD) is the major aspartate protease within lysosomes. The current study demonstrated that CatD expression was altered in the renal tubular epithelium in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).