In vitro and ex vivo effects of erythromycin A, azithromycin and josamycin on the splenic response to specific antigens and mitogens.

Author(s): Ortega E, Escobar MA, de Cienfuegos GA

Affiliation(s): Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaen, Paraje Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaen, Spain. eortega@ujaen.es

Publication date & source: 2002-06, J Antimicrob Chemother., 49(6):1031-4.

Publication type:

The immunomodulatory properties of antimicrobial agents and their clinical impact have been the focus of worldwide interest in recent years. In this study, the effects of different treatments with 14-, 15- and 16-membered ring macrolides on the mitogen-induced proliferative response of lymphocytes and the splenic response to immunization with sheep erythrocytes have been tested by in vitro and ex vivo assays in a murine experimental model. We observed that the in vivo administration of these antibiotics to mice induces a compensatory mechanism that abrogates the suppression observed by in vitro assays. Thus, physiological parameters may be important when testing the immunopharmacological effects of antibiotics.