Effects of erythromycin and rifampicin on immunomodulatory gene expression and cellular function in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the effects of two antibiotics, erythromycin and rifampicin, on the immunomodulatory gene expression and cellular function of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs).


METHODS
We used real-time quantitative PCR to examine the expression of immunomodulatory genes. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. PMN chemotaxis was analyzed using a KK chemotaxis chamber.


RESULTS
Stimulation of PMNs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in increases in the mRNA levels of immunomodulatory genes. Rifampicin significantly inhibited the overexpression of TLR2, TLR4, CD14 and IL8Rs. However, erythromycin suppressed only the upregulation of TLR2 and TNFA. Neither antibiotic had an effect on the production of ROS. Rifampicin significantly inhibited PMN chemotaxis, but erythromycin had no effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Erythromycin and rifampicin may play anti-inflammatory roles by affecting the expression levels of immunomodulatory genes or the chemotaxis of PMNs.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Xiaoqin
X
Mu
Tsuneyuki
T
Ubagai
Takane
T
Kikuchi-Ueda
Shigeru
S
Tansho-Nagakawa
Ryuichi
R
Nakano
Hirotoshi
H
Kikuchi
Yasuo
Y
Ono
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053700:Receptors, Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D053700:Receptors, Interleukin-8; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004917:Erythromycin; D012293:Rifampin