Commonly Used Antidepressants May Prevent Bone Loss

Bone destruction is characteristic of several chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and gum disease. Previous research has shown a correlation between the serotonin transporter -- serotonin is the chemical substance involved in transmitting signals between neurons and which plays a role in anxiety and mood disorders-- and bone destructive cells (osteoclasts). (Fluoxetine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs).) However, it was not clear what role serotonin played in bone metabolism.

Trabecular bone, one of two main types of bone, is spongy, and makes up the bulk of the interior of most bones, including the vertebrae. After a six-week treatment with fluoxetine, laboratory mice showed increased trabecular bone volume and total volume in femurs and vertebrae as determined by micro-computed tomography. Fluoxetine-treated animals were not protected from bone loss after ovariectomy, suggesting that its anabolic effect requires the presence of estrogen. The effect on bone loss was also investigated following a bacterial-mediated inflammatory challenge. Injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of the membrane of certain strains of bacteria, resulted in an increased number of osteoclasts and net bone loss. However, LPS given with fluoxetine caused new bone formation and a net gain in bone mass. The study concluded that fluoxetine treatment in vivo leads to increased bone mass under normal physiological conditions or inflammatory conditions, but does not prevent bone loss associated with estrogen deficiency.

This research, which will be published in the next issue of the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, currently available online, was led by Ricardo Battaglino, PhD, Assistant Member of the Staff in the Department of Cytokine Biology at The Forsyth Institute.

"As this class of medication is widely prescribed and used across all age groups, the consequences of the relationship between these drugs and bone metabolism may be very relevant to public health. This work will help us learn more about the underlying causes of osteoporosis and gain a new understanding of bone formation at a molecular level," said Dr. Battaglino. "Furthermore, this research provides exciting clues on how to prevent destructive bone loss and even improve bone mass in certain medical/dental conditions."

The research was funded in part by a grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. This work was done in collaboration with Ralph Mueller, Ph.D., SNF Professor of Bioengineering at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering University and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland whose laboratory analyzed changes in bone microarchitecture in response to fluoxetine treatment. Other contributors included Dr. Dana Graves, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, and Dr. Philip Stashenko, Dept. of Cytokine Biology, Forsyth.

The Forsyth Institute is the world's leading independent organization dedicated to scientific research and education in oral, craniofacial and related biomedical sciences.