CLARITHROMYCIN AND IMMUNE-RESPONSE - IN-VITRO AND EX-VIVO STUDY

Clanithromycin (CAM) is a new generation macrolide which has proved to exert a certain positive influence over some immunological functions in previous studies. In order to clarify this point, the in-vitro drug effect on some aspects of aspecific immunity, and in particular on ne utrophil (PMN) functions (phagocytosis, oxidative metabolism, enzyme r elease) and on humoral immunity (complement activation), has been cons idered. In our experiments, CAM was found to increase both PMN phagocy tosis and enzyme release in a significant way, while no effect on O-2( -) production and on complement activity was found. We also considered the CAM effect, after in-vivo administration, on PMN phagocytosis and on certain aspects of cellular immunity, i.e. lymphocyte subsets and serum levels of interleukin 2 (IL2) and interleukin 2 soluble receptor (sIL2R). Our results did not indicate any significant effect of CAM o n these parameters; however both in-vivo and in-vitro observations per mitted us to rule out a negative influence of CAM on the immune system , allowing us to consider CAM a drug of choice in the treatment of inf ections in immunodeficient subjects.