1: Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2007 Jan;9(1):7-13. Links
Macrolide immunomodulation of chronic respiratory diseases.

* Healy DP.

College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati Medical Center and
Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3225 Eden Avenue, P.O. Box 670004,
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0004, USA. daniel.healy@uc.edu.

Important immunomodulatory properties of 14- and 15-membered macrolides
may benefit patients with respiratory diseases associated with chronic
inflammation. These properties include decreased neutrophil chemotaxis and
infiltration into the respiratory epithelium, inhibition of transcription
factors leading to decreased proinflammatory cytokine production,
downregulation of adhesion molecule expression, inhibition of microbial
virulence factors including biofilm formation, reduced generation of
oxygen-free radicals, enhanced neutrophil apoptosis, and decreased mucus
hypersecretion with improved mucociliary clearance. Chronic, low-dose
macrolides have dramatically improved survival in patients with diffuse
panbronchiolitis (DPB). Given the overlap in pathogenesis between DPB and
other chronic respiratory diseases, macrolides are being investigated for
cystic fibrosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Preliminary data (largely from open-label
trials) are promising, but conclusive results are needed.

PMID: 17254499 [PubMed - in process]