Inhibition of VEGF gene expression in osteoblast cells by different NSAIDs

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of different nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression in two osteoblast cell populations.

Design: Osteoblasts obtained by primary culture (HOp) and human osteosarcoma cell line MG63 (MG-63), which were treated with 10 μM doses of acetaminophen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketorolac, naproxen or piroxicam. At 24 h of treatment, their gene expression of VEGF was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and compared with the expression in untreated cells (control group).

Results: The treatment with the different NSAIDs significantly reduced VEGF expression regardless of the cell line and NSAID studied.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that these drugs may have undesirable effects on the osteoblast and its bone-forming capacity, given the effect of this growth factor on these cells. Further studies are warranted to determine their repercussions on bone tissue and to elucidate the cell signaling mechanism/s involved.