Caffeine modulates growth and vitality of human melanotic COLO829 and amelanotic C32 melanoma cells: Preliminary findings

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide and therefore even small effects of coffee bioactive compounds on cellular homeostasis could have a large impact on public health. Recent cohort health studies have shown an impressive inverse correlation between caffeinated coffee consumption and malignant melanoma risk. The aim of presented study was to examine the effect of caffeine on cell viability and glutathione status of melanotic (COLO829) and amelanotic (C32) melanoma cell lines as well as normal human melanocytes. Cell viability was determined by WST-1 colorimetric assay and then confirmed by the cytometry analysis with NucleoCounter® NC-3000™. The intracellular level of reduced thiols was determined by the use of the fluorescence-based image cytometer. The obtained results indicate the ability of caffeine to induce reduced thiols depletion and pro-apoptotic effect selectively in melanoma cells. The COLO829 cell line was shown to be more susceptible to studied methylxanthine in comparison to C32 cells. These data may support, for the first time, the recent epidemiological studies and provide the basis for further research into the mechanism of chemopreventive properties of caffeine.