Suppression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 production from neutrophils by a macrolide antibiotic, roxithromycin, in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and roxithromycin (RXM) have an anti-inflammatory effect that may account for their clinical benefit in the treatment of chronic airway inflammatory diseases. However, the precise mechanism of this anti-inflammatory effect is not well understood.


OBJECTIVE
The influence of RXM on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 production from neutrophils in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation was examined in vitro.


METHODS
Neutrophils prepared from normal human peripheral blood (1 x 10(5) cells/ml) were treated with various concentrations of RXM for 1 h, and then stimulated with 1.0 microg/ml of LPS in the presence of the agent for 24 h. MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 levels in culture supernatants were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Addition of RXM at more than 5.0 microg/ml into cell cultures caused significant suppression of MMP-9 production, which was increased by LPS stimulation. However, the ability of cells to produce TIMP-1 was not affected by RXM treatment, even when the cells were cultured in the presence of agent at 10.0 microg/mL We then examined the influence of RXM on transcriptional factor, nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein (AP)-1 activation by LPS stimulation. RXM exerted suppressive action on NF-kappaB (P50 and P65) activation when the cells were cultured for 4 h at more than 5.0 microg/ml of the agent. RXM at more than 2.5 microg/ml also suppressed AP-1 (Fra 1 and Jun B) activation in 4-h cultured cells. We finally examined the influence of RXM on MMP-9 mRNA expression in neutrophils. Addition of RXM into cell cultures at more than 5.0 microg/ml caused significant inhibition of mRNA expression, which was enhanced by LPS stimulation for 12 h.


CONCLUSIONS
These results strongly suggest that RXM inhibits neutrophil transmigration into inflammatory sites and results in favorable modification of the clinical status of inflammatory diseases.
Kanai
Ken-Ichi
K
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
Asano
Kazuhito
K
Hisamitsu
Tadashi
T
Suzaki
Harumi
H
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D015575:Roxithromycin; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9