Roxithromycin inhibits chemokine-induced chemotaxis of Th1 and Th2 cells but regulatory T cells.
BACKGROUND
Roxithromycin (RXM), a 14-member macrolide antibiotic, has a variety of bioregulatory functions such as anti-inflammatory effects, anti-oxidant effects, and modulation of immune responses.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we analyzed the effect of RXM on chemokine-induced chemotaxis of Th1, Th2, and regulatory T (Treg) cells established from three normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes by the reported methods.


RESULTS
Incubation with 10 microM RXM for 18 h did not alter the expression profile of CXCR3 on Th1 cells and CCR4 on Th2 and Treg cells. However, upon RXM preincubation, the migration of Th1 cells to IP-10 and Th2 cells to TARC was partially suppressed, although RXM did not influence Treg cell migration. Erythromycin and clarithromycin at the same concentration did not exert such effects. F-actin polymerization and Ca(++) influx induced by IP-10 and TARC in Th1 and Th2 cells, respectively, was down-regulated by RXM pretreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results imply that RXM exhibits bioregulatory function by influencing chemotaxis of Th1 and Th2 cells while leaving Treg cell migration unaffected.
Ito
Taisuke
T
Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan. itoutai@hama-med.ac.jp
Ito
Natsuho
N
Hashizume
Hideo
H
Takigawa
Masahiro
M
D000199:Actins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018925:Chemokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015575:Roxithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000199:Actins; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D018925:Chemokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D015575:Roxithromycin; D002118:Calcium