Aim:
Several systemic
diseases, such as
periodontitis and
apical periodontitis, can cause extensive
bone resorption.
Host defense peptides may have the potential for the development of novel
therapies for the
bone resorption process. This study evaluated the potential of
host defense peptides clavanins A, MO, and LL-37 in
in vitro osteoclastogenesis.
Methods:
RAW 264.7
cultures were stimulated with recombinant of
receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand in the presence of different tested concentrations of
host defense peptides, besides
calcium hydroxide and
doxycycline. Cellular viability,
nitric oxide production, and a number of differentiated
osteoclast-like
cells were also evaluated.
Results:
Results showed that none of the substances were cytotoxic, except for 128 µg.mL-1 of
doxycycline after 3 days.
Host defense peptides,
calcium hydroxide, and
doxycycline did not interfere in
nitric oxide production or downregulated it. An exception was observed in the presence of 2 µg.mL-1 of
doxycycline, in which
nitric oxide production was up-regulated. All
host defense peptides were capable of reducing
osteoclast-like
cell differentiation.
Conclusion:
Host defense peptides clavanins A and MO demonstrated to be potential suppressors of
osteoclastogenesis in vitro without interfering in cellular viability and
nitric oxide production. These promising results need to be further analyzed in in vivo models of
bone resorption