Protective potential of piroxicam on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells against suppressive capacity of U-87 MG cell line

Abstract

Background: Dexamethasone, a common medication used in the treatment regimen of glioblastoma, has broad inhibitory effects on the immune responses. Here in an in vitro study, we examined the effects of piroxicam, a potent substitute for dexamethasone, on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) co-cultured with U-87 MG glioblastoma cell line.Methods: MTT assay was used to determine the proliferation of PBMCs treated with piroxicam, or dexamethasone. In addition, oxidative parameters, including superoxide dismutase-3 (SOD3) activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, as well as IFN-γ and TGF-β levels were measured in PBMCs alone or the presence of U-87 MG cells using ELISA. Results: unlike dexamethasone, piroxicam showed a protective effect on PBMCs against U-87 MG cell line. Furthermore, while dexamethasone reduced the proliferation of PBMCs, piroxicam had no adverse effect on the proliferation. LDH activity was also lower in piroxicam-treated U-87 MG cells; interestingly, after co-culturing piroxicam-treated PBMCs with U-87 MG cell line, a remarkable rise in the LDH activity was observed. Although not significant, piroxicam partially decreased TGF-β levels in U-87 cells. Conclusion: our findings suggested a protective effect of piroxicam, but not dexamethasone, on PBMCs against inhibitory mechanisms of the U-87 MG cell line.