title: Immunopharmacological activity of cefodizime in young and elderly subjects: in vitro and ex vivo studies.
abstract: The biological response modifying activities of cefodizime (CDZ), a new third-generation cephalosporin, were investigated in vitro and ex vivo. In vitro investigations using cells isolated from the blood of young healthy donors showed no stimulating activity of CDZ on peripheral blood lymphocytes, natural killer cell activity, IL-1 production by adherent mononuclear cells, PMN chemiluminescence or PMN chemotaxis. A slight but statistically insignificant increase in PMN phagocytosis and phagocytic index was observed in the same population. IL-1 production was increased in three subjects with low resting state values. In a controlled ex vivo study, 20 healthy elderly subjects selected on the basis of depressed phagocytic function were treated with CDZ 1 g i.m. b.i.d. or placebo for eight days. PMN function was determined at baseline and on the day after the last dose. In the CDZ group a significant increase in both phagocytosis and phagocytic index was found, while there were no changes in the placebo group. In conclusion, CDZ restored depressed PMN phagocytic function in a population of elderly subjects. Patients with impaired PMN function who require antibiotic treatment may benefit from this activity of CDZ.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Interna, Malattie Infettive ed Immunopatologia, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capsoni
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barcellini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minonzio
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ongari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fain
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pettenati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D002439:Cefotaxime; C033356:cefodizime