Modification of phagocytosis and cytokine production in peritoneal and splenic murine cells by erythromycin A, azithromycin and josamycin.
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.
Ortega
Elena
E
Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Paraje Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain. eortega@ujaen.es
Escobar
M Antonia
MA
Gaforio
José Juan
JJ
Algarra
Ignacio
I
Alvarez De Cienfuegos
Gerardo
G
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*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D020382:Interleukin-18; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004917:Erythromycin; D017963:Azithromycin; D015570:Josamycin