Antibiotic effects on phagocyte chemiluminescence in vitro

Abstract

Phagocytes are an essential defence against infection. Since drugs which affect their function may alter the outcome of infections, we have studied the effect of nine antibiotics on phagocyte function in vitro. The effects of antibiotics on the respiratory burst function of phagocytes from healthy adult donors were investigated using lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence in response to serum-opsonised zymosan. Aminoglycosides showed dose-dependent suppression of polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemiluminescence, except streptomycin which caused enhancement. Erythromycin caused profound suppression of chemiluminescence from both polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes. Benzylpenicillin and the cephalosporins caused variable suppression of phagocyte chemiluminescence: cefotaxime increased monocyte chemiluminescence in some experiments. None of the drugs produced suppression at clinically relevant plasma concentrations, but erythromycin and some other drugs are preferentially concentrated in phagocytes to levels which suppress their oxidative metabolism in vitro. It is therefore possible that some antibiotics alter phagocyte function: ex vivo studies of phagocyte function in patients taking antibiotics would be valuable.

Inhibitory Effect of Macrolides on Interleukin‐8 Secretion From Cultured Human Nasal Epithelial Cells

“…Several investigators have reported a variety of effects of macrolide antibiotics on immunocompetent cells, inflammatory cells, and airway epithelial cells. It has been shown in in vitro studies that these drugs modulate the proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production, and phagocytosis of monocytes/macrophages, 11,22‐26 improves the ciliary movement of airway epithelium, 27 inhibits ion and mucus secretion from epithelial cells, 28,29 and inhibits bacterial adherence to nasal epithelial cells 30 . Furthermore, macrolide administration suppresses neutrophil exudation to inflammatory sites in patients with chronic upper and lower respiratory diseases 5,7‐9,13,17 …”

Selected leukocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood and uterine washings in cows before and after intrauterine administration of cefapirin and methisoprinol

“…There are no available scientific reports regarding the influence of antibiotics on qualitative and quantitative changes in the subpopulations of immune cells in the uterus of cows. Most of the available literature presents the negative effects of many types of antibiotics on phagocytic cell activity, both in vitro and in vivo (Bode et al, ; Mor & Cohen, ; Pierce, Tarnow‐Mordi, & Cree, ). Research carried out by Dosogne, Hoeben, Burvenich, and Lohuis () showed that cefapirin in therapeutic concentrations had no effect on phagocytic functions of cells isolated from bovine blood.…”

Phagocytic and oxidative burst activity of phagocytic cells in peripheral blood and uterine washings in cows with clinical endometritis before and after intrauterine use of cephapirin and methisoprinol

“…There are no literature data on the impact of antibiotics on the function of the immune system in the uterus. Most available published research shows the negative effects of many types of antibiotics on the phagocytic and killing activity of phagocytes, both in vitro and in vivo (Bode et al., ; Mor & Cohen, ; Pierce, Tarnow‐Mordi, & Cree, ). There are, however, publications that show the stimulating effects of certain antibiotics, e.g., cefaclor, on the phagocytic and bactericidal function of phagocytic cells (Dąbrowski & Stankiewicz, ).…”