title: Effects of azithromycin on ozone-induced airway neutrophilia and cytokine release.
abstract: Exposure of humans to ozone causes increased neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines in airway lining fluid. Recent research shows that macrolide antibiotics may reduce interleukin (IL)-8 production by bronchial epithelial cells and inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis. A double-blind, cross-over study was performed in which 12 healthy subjects underwent two separate 4-h exposures to 0.2 parts per million ozone while exercising intermittently. In the 73.5 h before exposure, subjects were pretreated with either 1,250 mg azithromycin or placebo. Sputum induction conducted 74 h pre- and 18 h post-exposure was used to measure total cells, per cent neutrophils, IL-6, and IL-8. There were significant (p<0.05) pre- to post-exposure increases in total cells, neutrophils, IL-6 and IL-8 in both the azithromycin and placebo arms. However, no significant differences were found between azithromycin and placebo conditions in the post- minus pre-exposure value for these variables. The results suggest that in healthy subjects, in the design used, azithromycin, in usual clinical doses, does not have anti-inflammatory effects on human airways as indicated in the measured variables.
authors.affiliation: Lung Biology Center, Dept of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0854, USA.
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Criqui
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Boushey
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Balmes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013147:Spirometry; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010126:Ozone; D017963:Azithromycin; D009195:Peroxidase