Restoration of chloride efflux by azithromycin in airway epithelial cells of cystic fibrosis patients

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Apr;55(4):1792-3. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01403-10. Epub 2011 Jan 10.

Abstract

Azithromycin (AZM) has shown promising anti-inflammatory properties in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and clinical studies have presented an improvement in the respiratory condition of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate, in human airway cells, the mechanism by which AZM has beneficial effects in CF. We demonstrated that AZM did not have any anti-inflammatory effect on CF airway cells but restored Cl(-) efflux.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Azithromycin / pharmacology*
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorides / metabolism*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Respiratory System / cytology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Chlorides
  • Azithromycin