Clarithromycin inhibits rhinovirus-induced bacterial adhesions to nasal epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the inhibitory effects of clarithromycin (CM) on the rhinovirus (RV)-induced expression of fibronectin (Fn) and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs), which act as major receptors for Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae, respectively. We further investigated the effects of CM on secondary S. aureus and H. influenzae adhesions to RV-infected primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs).


METHODS
Cells were pretreated with 10 microM CM 24 hours before RV-16 infection and for 48 hours thereafter. The expression levels of Fn and CEACAMs were assayed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Bacterial adhesion to cells was assessed by confocal microscopy and the fluorescence intensity of adherent bacteria was analyzed using Image-Pro Plus 5.1 (Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD).


RESULTS
Clarithromycin significantly inhibited the RV-induced gene and protein expression of Fn and CEACAMs in HNECs. Compared with RV-infected cells, CM treatment significantly reduced the adhesion levels of S. aureus and H. influenzae in RV-infected HNECs to the levels seen in noninfected control cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that CM has the potential to prevent secondary bacterial infections in RV-infected HNECs by inhibiting the expression of Fn and CEACAM, thereby interfering with bacterial adhesion.
Wang
Jong Hwan
JH
Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Lee
Si Hyeong
SH
Kwon
Hyun Ja
HJ
Jang
Yong Ju
YJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005353:Fibronectins; D017291:Clarithromycin