Effect of roxithromycin on eotaxin-primed reactive oxygen species from eosinophils.

Background: The CC chemokine eotaxin not only attracts eosinophils to inflamed sites but also promotes adhesion, degranulation and reactive oxygen species production of eosinophils. Reactive oxygen species released from eosinophils are believed to injure epithelial cells at inflamed sites, resulting in airway hyperresponsiveness. Roxithromycin has been reported to have antiasthmatic effects, although its mechanism of action is not thoroughly understood. Therefore, the effect of roxithromycin on eotaxin-primed reactive oxygen species production from eosinophils was studied.
Methods: Reactive oxygen species production by eosinophils cultured with or without roxithromycin was evaluated using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence.
Results: Roxithromycin inhibited the release of reactive oxygen species from eosinophils evoked with the calcium ionophore A23187, regardless of pretreatment with or without eotaxin.
Conclusion: Roxithromycin may protect epithelial cells at inflamed sites, at least partly by inhibiting the release of reactive oxygen species from eosinophils.
(Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel)