title: [Protective effects of erythromycin on human bronchial epithelial cells impaired by interleukin-4].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the protective effects and mechanisms of erythromycin on human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells damaged by interleukin-4.
  
  
  METHODS
  The growth curve of HBE cells was recorded by MTT. The cells were divided into the following groups: control (incubation for 24, 48 h); IL-4 (0.01 mg/L, incubation for 24, 48 h); erythromycin intervention group 1 (4 mg/L erythromycin co-incubation for 24, 48 h after adding IL-4) and erythromycin intervention group 2 (40 mg/L erythromycin co-incubation for 24, 48 h after adding IL-4). The mitotic cycle of HBE cell was determined by flow cytometry and its apoptosis examined by Hoechst dyeing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The viability of HBE cells was significantly enhanced after a 24/48-hour treatment of erythromycin as compared with IL-4 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In erythromycin intervention group 1, the cell ratios of G(0)/G(1) and S phases were (55.9 ± 2.5)% and (34.7 ± 3.4)% respectively while the rate of cell apoptosis was (9.5 ± 0.9)%. There were significant differences as compared with IL-4 group (P < 0.05). In erythromycin intervention group 2, the cell ratios of G(0)/G(1) and S phases were (55.1 ± 0.5)% and (36.2 ± 2.7)% respectively while the rate of cell apoptosis was (4.0 ± 0.6)%. There were significant differences as compared with IL-4 group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythromycin has protective effects on HBE cells damaged by IL-4. The mechanism is probably through influencing the mitotic cycle and inhibiting the apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Clinical Phamarcy, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China. cxjleisure999@163.com
authors.forename: Xiao-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Tai-hui
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; D004917:Erythromycin