title: Roxythromycin reinforces epithelial defence function in rabbit trachea.
abstract: Our study elucidates the effect of roxythromycin (RXM) on airway epithelial defence functions, especially the mucociliary and epithelial barrier functions, in the rabbit trachea. In vitro ciliary activity was not affected in the presence of 3.3 mg/ml of RMX, but was enhanced in the presence of 6.7 mg/ml of RXM. Oral administration of 10 and 100 mg of RXM for 14 days enhanced both ciliary activity and mucociliary transport velocity in the trachea. Epithelial permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextrans (FD-70s; molecular weight: 70,000 daltons) was not affected by oral administration of 10 mg of RXM for 14 days, but was significantly reduced by oral administration of 100 mg of RXM for 14 days. Inhalation of platelet activating factor (PAF) compromised the function of the mucociliary system and the tight junction barrier. However, pretreatment with 20 mg of RXM significantly alleviated the PAF-induced decrease in mucociliary function and the increase in epithelial permeability to FD-70s. In conclusion, such reinforcement of the epithelial defence functions is likely to be involved in the pharmacological action underlying the clinical efficacy of RXM for chronic airway inflammatory disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kakinoki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Washio
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002923:Cilia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects; D010539:Permeability; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D015575:Roxithromycin