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Influence of new quinolones on normal immune capabilities

A F Tawfik1, H A Shoeb, S J Bishop

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics and Microbiology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Journal of Chemotherapy (Florence, Italy)
|October 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Certain fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin impact humoral immunity in mice, while all tested quinolones suppress human immune cell activity and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, except for norfloxacin.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics.
  • Their immunomodulatory effects require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin.
  • To assess their impact on humoral and cell-mediated immunity, phagocytic activity, and inflammation.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo studies on mice immune responses to sheep red blood cells.
  • In vitro assessment of human polymorphonuclear phagocytic activity.
  • Evaluation of anti-inflammatory properties.

Main Results:

  • Ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin modulated humoral immune responses in mice; norfloxacin and ofloxacin did not.
  • No significant alteration in cell-mediated immune responses was observed for any quinolone.
  • All tested fluoroquinolones suppressed human polymorphonuclear phagocytic activity.
  • Ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, and ofloxacin demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, while norfloxacin did not.

Conclusions:

  • Specific fluoroquinolones possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • These findings highlight potential interactions between fluoroquinolones and the immune system.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the clinical implications of these observed effects.

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