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Antibiotic cyclic AMP signaling by "primed" leukocytes confers anti-inflammatory cytoprotection

Kazuhiro Abeyama1, Ko-ichi Kawahara, Satoshi Iino

  • 1Department of Laboratory and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. k-abeyam@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp

Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|September 10, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Macrolide antibiotics reduce inflammation by activating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling in primed white blood cells. This pathway, involving cAMP and CREB, is crucial for their anti-inflammatory effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The precise mechanism of macrolide antibiotics' anti-inflammatory properties is not fully understood.
  • Leukocyte signaling pathways, particularly cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), are implicated in inflammatory responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of leukocytic cAMP signaling in the anti-inflammatory actions of macrolide antibiotics.
  • To elucidate the specific molecular targets and cellular conditions involved in macrolide-mediated anti-inflammation.

Main Methods:

  • Macrolides (erythromycin, roxithromycin, clarithromycin) were tested for their effects on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation in primed and resting leukocytes.
  • Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathways were analyzed.
  • Inhibition of cAMP/CREB signaling was achieved using adenosine 3 ':5 '-cyclic monophosphothioate, rp-isomer (rp-cAMPs) and CREB decoy oligonucleotides.

Main Results:

  • Clinical concentrations of macrolides preferentially inhibited NF-κB activation mediated by reactive oxygen species in primed leukocytes.
  • Macrolides induced cAMP-dependent signaling, specifically activating cAMP and CREB pathways in primed leukocytes.
  • Inhibiting cAMP/CREB signaling with rp-cAMPs and CREB decoy oligonucleotides diminished the anti-inflammatory effects of macrolides.

Conclusions:

  • Macrolide-induced activation of the cAMP/CREB signaling pathway in primed leukocytes is a key mechanism underlying their anti-inflammatory effects.
  • This study identifies a specific cellular context (primed leukocytes) and molecular pathway (cAMP/CREB) critical for macrolide antibiotic efficacy in reducing inflammation.

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