RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of azithromycin on ozone-induced airway neutrophilia and cytokine release
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 856
OP 862
DO 10.1034/j.1399-3003.2000.15e08.x
VO 15
IS 5
A1 GI Criqui
A1 C Solomon
A1 BS Welch
A1 RE Ferrando
A1 HA Boushey
A1 Balmes, JR
YR 2000
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/15/5/856.abstract
AB Exposure of humans to ozone causes increased neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines in airway lining fluid. Recent research shows that macrolide antibiotics may reduce interleukin (IL)-8 production by bronchial epithelial cells and inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis. A double-blind, cross-over study was performed in which 12 healthy subjects underwent two separate 4-h exposures to 0.2 parts per million ozone while exercising intermittently. In the 73.5 h before exposure, subjects were pretreated with either 1,250 mg azithromycin or placebo. Sputum induction conducted 74 h pre- and 18 h post-exposure was used to measure total cells, per cent neutrophils, IL-6, and IL-8. There were significant (p<0.05) pre- to post-exposure increases in total cells, neutrophils, IL-6 and IL-8 in both the azithromycin and placebo arms. However, no significant differences were found between azithromycin and placebo conditions in the post- minus pre-exposure value for these variables. The results suggest that in healthy subjects, in the design used, azithromycin, in usual clinical doses, does not have anti-inflammatory effects on human airways as indicated in the measured variables.