title: Entry of sanfetrinem into human polymorphonuclear granulocytes and its cell-associated activity against intracellular, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: The entry of antibiotics into phagocytes is necessary for activity against intracellular pathogens. The ability of sanfetrinem, the first member of a new class of antibiotics, to penetrate human polymorphonuclear granulocytes and its consequences upon subsequent phagocytosis and killing of ingested penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae have been evaluated. Sanfetrinem penetrated into human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) at all concentrations tested, with cellular concentration/extracellular concentration ratios of 6.6 to 5.03 and 4.21 when sanfetrinem was used at 0.25 to 0.5 and 1 microgram/ml, respectively, within 30 min of incubation. The uptake was complete within 5 min and was not energy dependent, since it was not affected by cell viability, environmental temperature, or the addition of a metabolic inhibitor. At a concentration of one-half the MIC, sanfetrinem significantly enhanced human PMN phagocytosis and increased intracellular bactericidal activity against penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. Following preexposure of PMNs to a concentration of one-half the MIC of sanfetrinem, there was a significant increase in both phagocytosis and killing compared with that for the controls, indicating the ability of sanfetrinem to interact with biological membranes and remain active within PMNs. Preexposure of streptococci to sanfetrinem made penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae more susceptible to the bactericidal mechanisms of human PMNs than untreated organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Turin, Italy. OMBRA@ipsnet.it
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cuffini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tullio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allocco
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Palarchio
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Carlone
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007769:Lactams; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007769:Lactams; D009895:Opsonin Proteins; C104757:sanfetrinem