Effective treatment of acute and chronic murine tuberculosis with liposome-encapsulated clofazimine.
The therapeutic efficacy of liposomal clofazimine (L-CLF) was studied in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman. Groups of mice were treated with either free clofazimine (F-CLF), L-CLF, or empty liposomes twice a week for five treatments beginning on day 1 (acute), day 21 (established), or day 90 (chronic) postinfection. One day after the last treatment, the numbers of CFU of M. tuberculosis in the spleen, liver, and lungs were determined. F-CLF at the maximum tolerated dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight was ineffective; however, 10-fold-higher doses of L-CLF demonstrated a dose response with significant CFU reduction in all tissues without any toxic effects. In acutely infected mice, 50 mg of L-CLF/kg reduced CFU 2 to 3 log units in all three organs. In established or chronic infection, treated mice showed no detectable CFU in the spleen or liver and 1- to 2-log-unit reduction in the lungs. A second series of L-CLF treatments cleared M. tuberculosis in all three tissues. L-CLF appears to be bactericidal in the liver and spleen, which remained negative for M. tuberculosis growth for 2 months. Thus, L-CLF could be useful in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Adams
L B
LB
G. W. Long Hansen's Disease Center at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Sinha
I
I
Franzblau
S G
SG
Krahenbuhl
J L
JL
Mehta
R T
RT
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002991:Clofazimine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004337:Drug Carriers; D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D008081:Liposomes; D002991:Clofazimine