Light at night and melatonin have opposite effects on breast cancer tumors in mice assessed by growth rates and global DNA methylation

Abstract

Light-at-night (LAN) is a worldwide problem co-distributed with breast cancer prevalence. We hypothesized that exposure to LAN is coincided with a decreased melatonin (MLT) secretion level, followed by epigenetic modifications and resulted in higher breast cancer tumors growth-rate. Accordingly, we studied the effect of LAN exposure and exogenous MLT on breast cancer tumors growth-rate. 4T1 cells were inoculated into BALB/c short day-acclimated mice, resulting in tumors growth. Growth rates were followed under various light exposures and global DNA methylations were measured. Results demonstrated the positive effect of LAN on tumors growth-rate, reversed by MLT through global DNA methylation.

• Breast cancer
• epigenetic modifications
• global methylation state
• light at night
• melatonin

Acknowledgments

Authors thank two anonymous reviewers for their constrictive remarks. This paper is dedicated to a dear colleague, Prof. Israel Ashkenazy who recently passed away.