The cytotoxic effects of levofloxacin on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of levofloxacin on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods Rat BMSCs were treated with levofloxacin at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 μg/ml). Toxic effects of levofloxacin on cell viability was assessed by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The cell apoptosis was detected by double staining. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis were used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) in the treated cells. Results After being treated with a concentration of levofloxacin (5-80 μg/ml) for 48 h, the cell viabilities were decreased to 92.39%, 88.26%, 84.11%, 78.71%, and 71.90% of that in the control. Levofloxacin, with concentrations ranging from 5 to 80 μg/ml, induced dose-dependent BMSCs apoptosis (vs. control P values were 0.022, 0.013, 0.007, 0.004, 0.002). Moreover, levofloxacin significantly increased the mRNA expression of MMP-3 (vs. control P values were 0.025, 0.021, 0.014, 0.002, 0.001) and MMP-13 (vs. control P values were 0.015, 0.009, 0.004, 0.003, 0.001)and decreased the expression of TIMP-1 (vs. control P values were 0.027, 0.015, 0.007, 0.005, 0.001)in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion Levofloxacin has cytotoxic effects on BMSCs characterized, which suggest a potential adverse effect of fluoroquinolones. Key words: Levofloxacin; Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; Cytotoxicity; Apoptosis