Impact of lomefloxacin on antioxidant enzymes activity in normal melanocytes HEMa-LP

Lomefloxacin is a synthetic, broad-spectrum antibacterial antibiotic. The use of this drug in the treatment of various infections may be limited by inherent serious adverse effects on pigmented tissues. The exact mechanisms of lomefloxacin phototoxic side effects have not been well established yet. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of lomefloxacin on antioxidant enzymes activity in cultured human normal melanocytes (HEMa-LP). The demonstrated changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPx) in melanocytes in the presence of lomefloxacin indicate that the analyzed drug is responsible for generation of reactive oxygen species, mainly superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide, what may be the reason of the reduction of melanocytes antioxidant status. Modulation of antioxidant defense system in melanocytes by lomefloxacin in vitro may explain a potential role of melanocytes and ROS in the mechanisms of lomefloxacin phototoxic effects in vivo.