Clarithromycin and azithromycin induce apoptosis of activated lymphocytes via down-regulation of Bcl-xL.
To evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of macrolide antibiotics, we examined whether macrolide antibiotics could induce apoptosis of activated lymphocytes. The proportion of apoptotic cells was augmented by clarithromycin (CLR) and azithromycin (AZM) compared with control. There was no significant difference in Fas and Fas-ligand expression between the control and macrolide-treated groups. CLR and AZM inhibited the expression of Bcl-xL compared with that of control. Our results suggest that CLR and AZM enhance apoptosis of activated lymphocytes by down-regulation of Bcl-xL.
Mizunoe
Syunji
S
Division of Pathogenesis and Disease Control, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Hasama, Oita 879-5593, Japan. mizunoe@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Kadota
Jun-Ichi
J
Tokimatsu
Issei
I
Kishi
Kenji
K
Nagai
Hiroyuki
H
Nasu
Masaru
M
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin