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Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of clarithromycin on Mycobacterium avium complex replication in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy

Abstract

The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) invades cultured human bronchial cells, can replicate intracellularly, and facilitates the release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of clarithromycin (CAM) on MAC invasion, replication, and the release of cytokines and chemokines. A human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) monolayer grown on a tissue culture plate was infected with MAC. After 24 h, the cells were washed with Hanks’ buffered salt solution, and extracellular bacteria were killed. The monolayer was further cultured for 5 days in medium containing CAM and subjected to a replication assay. The supernatants were assessed using a microchemotaxis assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). mRNA expression was evaluated using a DNA array. The amount of intracellular MAC on day 5 of culture was significantly lower in the presence of CAM at the levels of 1× and 4× MIC. CAM inhibited the release of chemotactic activity and the production of interleukin (IL)-8 and macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP)-1. DNA array analysis of mRNA expression in BEAS-2B cells showed that CAM inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, involving IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-8 mRNA. MAC invaded and replicated in BEAS-2B cells and induced the production of chemotactic factors. In contrast, CAM may have bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects leading to the inhibition of inflammatory events.

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Abbreviations

MAC:

Mycobacterium avium complex

CAM:

Clarithromycin

CFU:

Colony-forming unit

NCA:

Neutrophil chemotactic activity

MCA:

Monocyte chemotactic activity

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for AIDS Research from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Suzaka Hospital, 1332 Suzaka, Suzaka, 382-0091, Japan

    Yoshitaka Yamazaki

  2. Department of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan

    Atsuhito Ushiki & Keishi Kubo

  3. Second Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Asahimachi, Chuoku, Niigata, 951-8520, Japan

    Yoshinari Tanabe

  4. Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Chushin Matsumoto Hospital, 811 Kotobuki, Matsumoto, 390-0021, Japan

    Sekiya Koyama

Authors
  1. Yoshitaka Yamazaki
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  2. Atsuhito Ushiki
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  4. Sekiya Koyama
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  5. Keishi Kubo
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Correspondence to Yoshitaka Yamazaki.

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Yamazaki, Y., Ushiki, A., Tanabe, Y. et al. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of clarithromycin on Mycobacterium avium complex replication in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells. J Infect Chemother 18, 683–688 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0395-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0395-6

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