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Chronic granulomatous disease: effect of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim on neutrophil microbicidal function

Helvetica Paediatrica Acta
|January 1, 1981
PubMed

Insights

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) accumulate in neutrophils, enhancing bacterial killing in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). This explains SMX/TMP efficacy in infections with impaired phagocyte function.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Neutrophils are crucial for combating bacterial infections.
  • Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) impairs neutrophil microbicidal function.
  • Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) are antibiotics often used to manage infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the accumulation of SMX and TMP in normal and CGD neutrophils.
  • To determine the effect of SMX/TMP on bacterial killing by CGD neutrophils.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of SMX/TMP accumulation in neutrophils.

Main Methods:

  • Quantification of SMX and TMP accumulation in neutrophils from healthy donors and CGD patients.
  • Assessment of bacterial killing by SMX/TMP-treated CGD neutrophils after Staphylococcus aureus phagocytosis.
  • Analysis of potential drug accumulation mechanisms, including non-ionic diffusion and pH-partition.

Main Results:

  • CGD neutrophils demonstrated a 3-fold increase in SMX and a 14-fold increase in TMP accumulation compared to normal neutrophils.
  • SMX/TMP treatment enhanced the killing of S. aureus by CGD neutrophils.
  • Drug accumulation may be mediated by non-ionic diffusion and pH-partition mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • SMX and TMP accumulate significantly in CGD neutrophils, potentially via non-ionic diffusion and pH-partition.
  • The enhanced accumulation of SMX/TMP contributes to improved bacterial killing in CGD neutrophils.
  • These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the clinical efficacy of SMX/TMP in treating infections in CGD and related conditions.

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