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Effects of clarithromycin on inflammatory cell mediator release and survival
Peter D Borszcz1, Dean Befus, Redwan Moqbel
1Pulmonary Research Group, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Background:
Clarithromycin exhibits anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial activity, leading to decreased symptoms of asthma and chronic sinusitis. The mode of anti-inflammatory effects of clarithromycin on inflammatory cells is not well understood. We hypothesized that clarithromycin inhibits inflammatory cell mediator release and survival.
Methods:
We investigated the effects of this drug on survival and mediator release from mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils.
Results:
Human eosinophil and neutrophil respiratory burst was inhibited by up to 54% after 1-2 h pretreatment with 100 microg/ml clarithromycin. Similar doses of erythromycin did not affect respiratory burst responses in these cells. Clarithromycin at doses of up to 100 microg/ml had no effect on granule-derived mediators released from mast cells and neutrophils. However, we found that clarithromycin (100 microg/ml) induced cell death in mast cells and eosinophils after 16-48 h incubation.
Conclusion:
Clarithromycin inhibited inflammatory cell mediator release and survival, which may enhance its ability to reduce the symptoms of chronic sinusitis and asthma.
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