Osteoclastogenic-inducing effects of fluoroquinolones on human osteoclast and osteoblast co-cultures

Abstract

Abstract Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are a broad-spectrum class of antibiotics that may cause some secondary effects in bone tissue, such as delayed fracture healing or osteoarthritis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of five different FQs (ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin) in osteoclastogenesis, using co-cultures of human osteoclasts and osteoblasts as an in vitro model. It was observed that all FQs, except levofloxacin, promoted an increase in osteoclast formation, gene expression and calcium phosphate resorbing ability, in a dose-dependent manner. MEK and NFkB signaling pathways were involved in cell response, as well as PGE2 production. The observed increase in osteoclastogenesis may be involved in the deleterious effects that FQs may cause in bone tissue.