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Ciprofloxacin does not inhibit mitochondrial functions but other antibiotics do

K Riesbeck1, A Bredberg, A Forsgren

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Ciprofloxacin did not affect mitochondrial functions like DNA replication or protein synthesis at clinical doses. Other antibiotics, such as tetracyclines, did inhibit protein synthesis.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Mitochondria are crucial for cellular energy production.
  • Antibiotics can have off-target effects on host cells.
  • Understanding antibiotic mitochondrial toxicity is important for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of ciprofloxacin on mitochondrial functions.
  • To compare ciprofloxacin's mitochondrial effects with other antibiotics.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing mitochondrial DNA replication.
  • Measuring oxidative phosphorylation.
  • Evaluating mitochondrial mass using transmembrane potential.
  • Analyzing supercoiled DNA forms.
  • Testing protein synthesis inhibition.

Main Results:

  • Ciprofloxacin did not inhibit mitochondrial DNA replication, oxidative phosphorylation, protein synthesis, or mitochondrial mass at clinical concentrations.
  • No changes in supercoiled DNA were observed with ciprofloxacin.
  • Tetracyclines and chloramphenicol inhibited protein synthesis at clinically achievable concentrations.
  • Rifampin, fusidic acid, and clindamycin did not inhibit protein synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • Ciprofloxacin appears safe regarding mitochondrial function at tested concentrations.
  • Certain antibiotics like tetracyclines and chloramphenicol exhibit protein synthesis inhibition, impacting mitochondria.
  • Further research may be needed to fully elucidate antibiotic-specific mitochondrial interactions.

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