Effect of acetaminophen (paracetamol) on human osteosarcoma cell line MG63

Abstract

Aim: To examine the effects of acetaminophen (paracetamol), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on different cellular and functional parameters of the human osteosarcoma cell line MG63.

Methods: Flow cytometry was used to study proliferation, antigenic profile, and phagocytic activity, and radioimmunoassay was used to determine osteocalcin synthesis as a cell differentiation marker.

Results: Short-term treatment with therapeutic doses of paracetamol(5 or 25 μmol/L) reduced cell proliferation, osteocalcin synthesis, and phagocyte activity, and increased the expression of antigens involved in antigen presentation to T lymphocytes (CD80, CD86, HLA-DR).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that paracetamol activates the osteoblast, inducing its immunogenic action to the detriment of its bone formation capacity.

Figure 1

Effects of acetaminophen on osteoblast proliferation in MG63 cell line after 24 h of incubation at 5 or 25 μmol/L. Data are shown in the mean±SEM. Data from acetaminophen-treated and control cultures were compared using the Student's t-test. ^cP<0.01.

Figure 2

Flow cytometry analysis of MG63 cell line after 24 h of incubation. Cultures were treated with 25 μmol/L of acetaminophen (white), and the non-drug treated cultures were the control (black). ^bP<0.05, ^cP<0.01.

Figure 3

Effects of acetaminophen on quantitative determination of osteocalcin in MG63 cell line after 24 h of incubation with 25 μmol/L of acetaminophen. Data are shown as mean±SEM. ^cP<0.01.

Figure 4

Fluorescence histogram of the expression of phagocytic activity of MG63 cell line after treatment with acetaminophen studied by flow cytometry. Cultures were treated with 25 μmol/L of acetaminophen (white), and the non-drug treated cultures were the control (black). Experiments were repeated at least three times. Data are shown in the mean±SEM. ^cP<0.01.