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.
Ortega
E
E
Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Spain. eortega@ujaen.es
de Pablo
M A
MA
Gaforio
J J
JJ
Gallego
A M
AM
Alvarez
C
C
Ruiz-Bravo
A
A
de Cienfuegos
G A
GA
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