Modification of acquired immunity in BALB/c mice by aztreonam.
Recent studies have suggested that antibiotics may act as biological response modifiers. In this study we investigated the effect of aztreonam, a monobactam antibiotic, on different parameters of acquired immunity in BALB/c mice. Different dosages of aztreonam injected into mice induced an increase in the lymphoproliferative response to specific mitogens and in the production of interleukin-2 by splenic cells, as well as a decreased response of this immune population to sheep erythrocytes lower total blood cell counts and a lower percentage of monocytes than in untreated mice. These results show a modulatory action of aztreonam on different immune parameters, which is independent of its antimicrobial activity and that could be of interest in human therapy.
Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Spain. eortega@ujaen.es
E
E
Ortega
M A
MA
de Pablo
J J
JJ
Gaforio
A M
AM
Gallego
C
C
Alvarez
A
A
Ruiz-Bravo
G A
GA
de Cienfuegos
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001398:Aztreonam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008997:Monobactams / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008997:Monobactams; D001398:Aztreonam