Effects of clarithromycin on inflammatory cell mediator release and survival.
BACKGROUND
Clarithromycin exhibits anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial activity, leading to decreased symptoms of asthma and chronic sinusitis. The mode of anti-inflammatory effects of clarithromycin on inflammatory cells is not well understood. We hypothesized that clarithromycin inhibits inflammatory cell mediator release and survival.


METHODS
We investigated the effects of this drug on survival and mediator release from mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils.


RESULTS
Human eosinophil and neutrophil respiratory burst was inhibited by up to 54% after 1-2 h pretreatment with 100 microg/ml clarithromycin. Similar doses of erythromycin did not affect respiratory burst responses in these cells. Clarithromycin at doses of up to 100 microg/ml had no effect on granule-derived mediators released from mast cells and neutrophils. However, we found that clarithromycin (100 microg/ml) induced cell death in mast cells and eosinophils after 16-48 h incubation.


CONCLUSIONS
Clarithromycin inhibited inflammatory cell mediator release and survival, which may enhance its ability to reduce the symptoms of chronic sinusitis and asthma.
Borszcz
Peter D
PD
Pulmonary Research Group, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Befus
Dean
D
Moqbel
Redwan
R
Sin
Don D
DD
Adamko
Darryl J
DJ
Man
S F Paul
SF
Lacy
Paige
P
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016897:Respiratory Burst
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin