Directed neutrophil migration to IL-8 is increased in cystic fibrosis: a study of the effect of erythromycin.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to compare neutrophil migration in cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF populations and to investigate the effect of erythromycin on directed migration of neutrophils (PMNs) in CF.


METHODS
PMNs were isolated and their migratory capacity in response to interleukin-8 (IL-8) or f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) in the presence or absence of erythromycin (1-100 microg/ml) was assessed.


RESULTS
CF derived PMNs showed significantly increased migration to IL-8 but not to fMLP compared with non-CF PMNs. Erythromycin had no significant effect on migration responses to IL-8 and in vitro exposure of PMNs to erythromycin had no effect.


CONCLUSIONS
CF derived PMNs show higher migratory responsiveness to IL-8 but not to fMLP, suggesting that CF PMNs may be "primed" to IL-8 which is significantly increased in CF serum compared with non-CF serum. Treatment with erythromycin had no significant effect on PMN migration in vitro.
Brennan
S
S
Division of Clinical Sciences, TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Subiaco, Western Australia. shivs@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Cooper
D
D
Sly
P D
PD
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D004917:Erythromycin