title: Azithromycin inhibits IL-5 production of T helper type 2 cells from asthmatic children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood asthma is a type 2 helper T (Th2) cell-driven inflammatory airway disease characterized by recurrent episodes of airway obstruction. Azithromycin (AZM), a macrolide antibiotic exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity aside from its antibacterial effect, may prove beneficial for asthmatic children. This study aimed to determine the effect of AZM on Th2 cells from atopic asthmatic children and non-atopic controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  CD4+ cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 9 patients with asthma and 9 non-atopic individuals. Cells were activated as Th0 and differentiated into Th2 cells. The effect of AZM on activated CD4+ cells was evaluated with respective cell proliferation and cytokine production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Th0 and Th2 CD4+ T cells from atopic asthmatic children produced greater interleukin (IL)-5 (Th2 cytokine) but lower interferon (IFN)-γ (Th1 cytokine) compared to the non-atopic controls, respectively. AZM inhibited IL-5 production of Th0 and Th2 cells from atopic asthmatics in a dose-dependent fashion, without significantly affecting their IL-13 and IFN-γ production. A similar effect was observed in non-atopic controls except that AZM did inhibit IFN-γ production of their Th0 cells. AZM at a higher dose decreased cell viability by inhibiting CD4+ T cell proliferation and enhanced their apoptosis, an effect similarly observed in Th0 and Th2 cells, and did not differ between asthmatic children and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding that AZM preferentially downregulates IL-5 production suggests its therapeutic potentials in controlling childhood asthma.
authors: Division of Asthma, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Syh-Jae
authors: SJ
authors: Lin
authors: Wan-Jung
authors: WJ
authors: Lee
authors: Yu-Wen
authors: YW
authors: Liang
authors: Dah-Chin
authors: DC
authors: Yan
authors: Po-Jen
authors: PJ
authors: Cheng
authors: Ming-Ling
authors: ML
authors: Kuo