Effect of clarithromycin on the cell profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in mice with neutrophil-predominant lung disease.
OBJECTIVE
Macrolide antibiotics have anti-inflammatory properties in lung diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of clarithromycin in pulmonary cellular inflammatory response in mice.


METHODS
Eight adult Swiss mice were studied. All animals received an intranasal challenge (80 micro L) with dead Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.0 x 10(12) CFU/mL). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed 2 days later, with total cell count and differential cell analysis. The study group (n = 4) received clarithromycin treatment (50 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal) for 5 days. Treatment was initiated 2 days before intranasal challenge.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in total cell count between the groups (mean: 2.0 x 10(6) and 1.3 x 10(6), respectively). In both groups, there was a predominance of neutrophils. However, the study group had a higher percentage of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage than the control group (median of 19% vs 2.5%, P =.029).


CONCLUSIONS
Clarithromycin alters the cytological pattern of bronchoalveolar lavage of Swiss mice with neutrophil pulmonary inflammation, significantly increasing the percentage of lymphocytes.
Department of Pediatrics, São Lucas Hospital, Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Leonardo Araújo
LA
Pinto
Camila
C
Camozzato
Monique
M
Avozani
Denise Cantarelli
DC
Machado
Marcus Herbert
MH
Jones
Renato Tetelbom
RT
Stein
Paulo Márcio Condessa
PM
Pitrez
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002452:Cell Count; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin