Erythromycin inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced tumour necrosis factor-alpha production in human whole blood.

Abstract

Erythromycin has been shown to be beneficial for panbronchiolitis, a disorder linked to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Erythromycin, but not the anti-Pseudomonas antibiotics imipenem, ceftazidime, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, caused a dose-dependent decrease in the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by whole blood stimulated with heat-killed P. aeruginosa. The release of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, interferon-gamma and IL-8 was inhibited only at the highest erythromycin concentration. Inhibition of TNF-alpha production by erythromycin may, at least in part, explain the efficacy of this macrolide during panbronchiolitis despite its lack of activity for P. aeruginosa.

• Authors: M J Schultz, P Speelman, T van der Poll
• Journal: The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy (J Antimicrob Chemother) Vol. 48 Issue 2 Pg. 275-8 (Aug 2001) ISSN: 0305-7453 [Print] England
• PMID: 11481300 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Erythromycin

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology)
• Blood (microbiology)
• Erythromycin (blood, pharmacology)
• Humans
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (drug effects, growth & development)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)