title: Antibiotic-induced apoptosis in human activated peripheral lymphocytes.
abstract: Long-term administration of macrolide antibiotics reduced the number of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with chronic airway inflammatory disease. To evaluate the inflammatory activity of macrolides, their effect on apoptosis of activated lymphocytes isolated from human peripheral blood was compared with that of other antibiotics. Macrolides, including clarithromycin and azithromycin, at a final concentration of 100 microg/ml accelerated apoptosis of activated lymphocytes, while other antibiotics such as fosfomycin sodium, beta-lactams--ceftazidime, piperacillin sodium and biapenem, and a quinolone, ofloxacin, did not cause significant induction of apoptosis. Our results suggest that 14- or 15-membered ring macrolides are specifically involved in the augmentation of apoptosis of activated lymphocytes, and this may be of value therapeutically for chronic airway diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathogenesis and Disease Control, Department of Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Hasama, Oita 879-5593, Japan. kadota@med.oita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.forename: Syunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizunoe
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Issei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tokimatsu
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasu
mesh_terms: D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000032:analysis; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011419:Propidium / Q000378:metabolism; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D011419:Propidium; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin