Macrolide antibiotics like azithromycin increase lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-8 production by human gingival fibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE
Macrolide antibiotics are reported to modulate the production of cytokines in various type of cells. We examined the effect of macrolide antibiotics on inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and chemical mediator (PGE(2)) and also matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) productions by human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).


METHODS
The effect of macrolide antibiotics [erythromycin (EM), azithromycin (AZM) and josamycin (JOM)] on HGFs proliferation were examined by MTT assay. HGFs were treated with LPS from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgLPS) and macrolide antibiotics, and IL-6, IL-8 and PGE(2) levels were evaluated by ELISA. MMPs were detected by gelatin zymography.


RESULTS
AZM slightly but significantly decreased HGFs proliferation, while EM and JOM did not affected. AZM increased PgLPS-induced IL-8 production dose-dependently, while AZM did not alter IL-6 and PGE2 productions. EM and JOM did not altered PgLPS-induced IL-6, IL-8 and PGE(2) productions. All macrolide antibiotics did not alter MMPs production. These results indicate that macrolide antibiotics have no direct anti-inflammatory effect. However, the use of the inhibitors of cell signaling pathway failed to reveal the mechanism that AZM enhanced PgLPS-induced IL-8 production.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest macrolide antibiotics have an indirect anti-inflammatory effect as a result of their antimicrobial properties. Because AZM increased LPS-induced IL-8 production by HGFs, the possibility is considered that neutrophils may be migrated to periodontal tissue and phagocytize the periodontopathic bacteria more efficiently.
Kamemoto
A
A
Department of Pharmacology, Matsumoto Dental University, 1780 Gobara, Hirooka, Shiojiri, Nagano 399-0781, Japan.
Ara
T
T
Hattori
T
T
Fujinami
Y
Y
Imamura
Y
Y
Wang
Pao-Li
PL
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017963:Azithromycin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D015232:Dinoprostone