title: Effects of Low-Dose and Long-Term Treatment with Erythromycin on Interleukin-17 and Interleukin-23 in Peripheral Blood and Induced Sputum in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of low-dose and long-term treatment with erythromycin on IL-17 and IL-23, in peripheral blood and induced sputum, in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly divided into placebo-treated group, group A (12 months of additive treatment with erythromycin, N = 18), and group B (6 months of additive treatment with erythromycin followed by 6 months of follow-up, N = 18). Inflammatory cells in induced sputum, pulmonary function, and the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were analyzed. Concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 in peripheral blood and sputum were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, sputum and peripheral blood concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 significantly decreased in groups A and B compared with placebo-treated group. There were no significant differences after erythromycin withdrawal at months 9 and 12 in group B compared with placebo-treated group. An increase in 6MWD was observed after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythromycin was beneficial and reduced airway inflammation in COPD patients. Underlying mechanisms may involve inhibition of IL-17 and IL-23 mediated airway inflammation. COPD patients treated with erythromycin for 6 months experienced improved exercise capacity. Finally, treatment for 12 months may be more effective than treatment for 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Caimei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Jianquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23; D004917:Erythromycin