title: Modification of phagocytosis and cytokine production in peritoneal and splenic murine cells by erythromycin A, azithromycin and josamycin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-incubation of peritoneal or splenic cells with different doses of the macrolides erythromycin A (14-membered ring), azithromycin (15-membered ring) and josamycin (16-membered ring) affects their phagocytic activity or cytokine production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peritoneal and splenic cells from BALB/c mice were pre-incubated with different concentrations of these antibiotics, those similar to serum levels attained with the treatment schedules used in human therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From our observations of phagocytic activity and IL-12 production by peritoneal cells, these macrolide antibiotics seem to act mainly as immunosuppressive agents, although they induce peritoneal cells to increase IL-18 production and splenic cells IL-4 production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Macrolide antibiotics can interfere with the Th1 cell-amplifying activity of IL-18 in conjunction with IL-12 and, in contrast, may induce a Th2 cell response in an IL-4-dependent manner. These results could improve their therapeutic use especially in immunosuppressed patients.
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: M Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: José Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gaforio
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Algarra
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alvarez De Cienfuegos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015570:Josamycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D020382:Interleukin-18; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin; D015570:Josamycin