Effect of clarithromycin on lung inflammation and alveolar macrophage function in Klebsiella penumoniae B5055-induced acute lung infection in BALB/c mice

J Chemother. 2008 Oct;20(5):609-14. doi: 10.1179/joc.2008.20.5.609.

Abstract

Acute lung injuries due to acute lung infections remain the major cause of mortality. Thus antibiotics with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities ,regardless of their antibacterial properties, will help to overcome acute lung infection-induced injuries. The macrolide antibiotics have been shown to possess these properties. Clarithromycin has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties in chronic inflammatory conditions. So we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of clarithromycin treatment in Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055-induced acute lung infection in mice. The clarithromycin treatment significantly (p<0.05) decreased the bacterial load in the lungs of K. pneumoniae B5055-infected mice and significantly (p<0.05) increased macrophage activity. The clarithromycin treatment also significantly ( p<0.05) decreased the neutrophil infiltration into the lungs and decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Clarithromycin significantly (p<0.05) decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) production and thus decreased acute lung injury occurring during acute lung infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clarithromycin / therapeutic use*
  • Klebsiella Infections / drug therapy*
  • Klebsiella Infections / immunology
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / drug effects
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Peroxidase / drug effects
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia / immunology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Peroxidase
  • Clarithromycin