Meloxicam elevates serum concentration of erythropoietin and numbers of bone marrow erythroid progenitor cells in sublethally gamma-irradiated mice.

摘要

Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug selectively inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2, was found to enhance the regeneration of erythroid progenitor cells (BFU-E) in the femoral bone marrow of mice when administered after sublethal irradiation (4 Gy gamma-rays). In mice treated with meloxicam once daily on days 3, 4, 5, and 6 after irradiation, the values of BFU-E per femur in meloxicam-treated mice on days 7 and 14 after irradiation were at the levels of 156% and 191%, respectively, related to those in irradiated saline-treated controls (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). Moreover, it has been shown that these effects of meloxicam can be associated with its ability to stimulate erythropoietin production in irradiated mice. Six and 12 h after one dose of meloxicam given on day 3 after irradiation, the serum level of erythropoietin was two fold higher when compared with irradiated saline-treated controls (P<0.05). It is suggested that meloxicam may have practical implications in the treatment of myelosuppression.