Erythromycin attenuates MUC5AC synthesis and secretion in cultured human tracheal cells infected with RV14.
OBJECTIVE
The common cold is a major cause of asthma exacerbation and chronic obstructive lung disease. Rhinovirus is reported to be responsible for more than 50% of cases of the common cold. In a previous study, we reported that rhinovirus infection of cultured airway cells induced MUC5AC mucin overproduction and hypersecretion by activating the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p44/42 MAPK) pathway. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of erythromycin on RV14-induced airway mucin overproduction and hypersecretion.


METHODS
RV14-infected human tracheal epithelial cells were treated with erythromycin.


RESULTS
Erythromycin blocked RV14-induced MUC5AC protein overproduction and hypersecretion, and also blocked RV14-induced p44/42 MAPK activation in the cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Erythromycin may attenuate RV14-induced MUC5AC overproduction and hypersecretion by blocking the p44/42 MAPK pathway or its upstream regulators.
Inoue
Daisuke
D
Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan. dinoue@world.ocn.ne.jp
Kubo
Hiroshi
H
Sasaki
Takahiko
T
Yasuda
Hiroyasu
H
Numasaki
Muneo
M
Sasaki
Hidetada
H
Yamaya
Mutsuo
M
D000368:Aged; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003139:Common Cold / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004917:Erythromycin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases