title: In vitro and ex vivo effects of erythromycin A, azithromycin and josamycin on the splenic response to specific antigens and mitogens.
abstract: The immunomodulatory properties of antimicrobial agents and their clinical impact have been the focus of worldwide interest in recent years. In this study, the effects of different treatments with 14-, 15- and 16-membered ring macrolides on the mitogen-induced proliferative response of lymphocytes and the splenic response to immunization with sheep erythrocytes have been tested by in vitro and ex vivo assays in a murine experimental model. We observed that the in vivo administration of these antibiotics to mice induces a compensatory mechanism that abrogates the suppression observed by in vitro assays. Thus, physiological parameters may be important when testing the immunopharmacological effects of antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Paraje Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain. eortega@ujaen.es
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Ma  Antonia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Gerardo Alvarez
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: de Cienfuegos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015570:Josamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000941:Antigens; D008934:Mitogens; D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin; D015570:Josamycin