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Updated: Sep 15, 2025

An Ex vivo Mast Cell Degranulation Assay using Crude Peritoneal Exudate Cells and Natural Antigen Stimulation
Published on: April 27, 2021
Clarithromycin attenuates severe steroid hyporesponsive asthma by regulating type 2/type 17 inflammation balance and
Yongjing Zhang1, Xinping Zhang2, Chenjia Li2
1Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Abstract:
Asthma is a global notifiable disease that is mainly treated with glucocorticoids and airway relaxants. Some patients with neutrophilic airway inflammation are not sensitive to glucocorticoids therapy and there is no effective treatment available. Clarithromycin (CLA) is a commonly used macrolide antibiotic in clinical practice and is used in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections. However, the underlying mechanism remain unclear. The inhibitory effect of CLA on epithelial cells inflammation and mast cells (MCs) activation in vitro or in vivo were measured. LPS/OVA induced severe steroid hyporesponsive asthma (SSHA) mice were used to evaluate CLA relief on pulmonary inflammation, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytokines release, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). CLA inhibited the secretion of inflammatory mediators from epithelial cells induced by LPS + IL-13 and modulated type 2/type 17 inflammation balance induced by IL-13 + TNF-α or IL-17 A. Besides, CLA inhibited MRGPRX2 induced MCs activation directly in vitro and pseudo-allergic reaction in vivo. Furthermore, the activation and proliferation of MCs incubated with LPS + IL-13 induced epithelial cell supernatant was inhibited when CLA was applied. In vivo study confirmed that CLA attenuated SSHA mice symptoms. CLA has the potential as a therapeutic drug for SSHA by regulating epithelial cells type 2/type 17 inflammation balance and inhibiting mast cell activation.
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