Inhibitory effect of erythromycin on interleukin 8 production by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-stimulated THP-1 cells.
We have recently reported that long-term administration of erythromycin at a low dose reduced the number of neutrophils and concentrations of interleukin 8 (IL-8) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with chronic lower respiratory tract disease. To investigate the mechanism of action of erythromycin, we evaluated its effect on IL-8 production in the 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-stimulated human monocytic cell line THP-1. Erythromycin at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml significantly reduced IL-8 production by THP-1 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (10 ng/ml) and 1% normal human serum compared with the amount produced by untreated cells (untreated cells, 2,448 pg/ml; erythromycin-treated cells, 872 pg/ml). Our results suggest that erythromycin may impair IL-8 production by alveolar macrophages, ultimately reducing neutrophil accumulation in the airspace.
Fujii
T
T
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan. immunol@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Kadota
J
J
Morikawa
T
T
Matsubara
Y
Y
Kawakami
K
K
Iida
K
K
Shirai
R
R
Taniguchi
H
H
Kaseda
M
M
Kawamoto
S
S
Kohno
S
S
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D004917:Erythromycin; D002117:Calcitriol