Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide Antibiotics

Macrolide antibiotics possess several, beneficial, secondary properties which complement their primary antimicrobial activity. In addition to high levels of tissue penetration, which may counteract seemingly macrolide-resistant bacterial pathogens, these agents also possess anti-inflammatory propert...

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Main Authors: Helen C. Steel, Annette J. Theron, Riana Cockeran, Ronald Anderson, Charles Feldman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/584262
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author Helen C. Steel
Annette J. Theron
Riana Cockeran
Ronald Anderson
Charles Feldman
author_facet Helen C. Steel
Annette J. Theron
Riana Cockeran
Ronald Anderson
Charles Feldman
author_sort Helen C. Steel
collection DOAJ
description Macrolide antibiotics possess several, beneficial, secondary properties which complement their primary antimicrobial activity. In addition to high levels of tissue penetration, which may counteract seemingly macrolide-resistant bacterial pathogens, these agents also possess anti-inflammatory properties, unrelated to their primary antimicrobial activity. Macrolides target cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, as well as structural cells, and are beneficial in controlling harmful inflammatory responses during acute and chronic bacterial infection. These secondary anti-inflammatory activities of macrolides appear to be particularly effective in attenuating neutrophil-mediated inflammation. This, in turn, may contribute to the usefulness of these agents in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders of both microbial and nonmicrobial origin, predominantly of the airways. This paper is focused on the various mechanisms of macrolide-mediated anti-inflammatory activity which target both microbial pathogens and the cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems, with emphasis on their clinical relevance.
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series Mediators of Inflammation
spelling doaj-art-cd021c7cdf3749a8a7907f4da78926df2025-08-20T02:19:54ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18612012-01-01201210.1155/2012/584262584262Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide AntibioticsHelen C. Steel0Annette J. Theron1Riana Cockeran2Ronald Anderson3Charles Feldman4Medical Research Council Unit for Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Tshwane Academic Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, P.O. Box 2034, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaMedical Research Council Unit for Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Tshwane Academic Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, P.O. Box 2034, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaMedical Research Council Unit for Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Tshwane Academic Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, P.O. Box 2034, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaMedical Research Council Unit for Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Tshwane Academic Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, P.O. Box 2034, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaDivision of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South AfricaMacrolide antibiotics possess several, beneficial, secondary properties which complement their primary antimicrobial activity. In addition to high levels of tissue penetration, which may counteract seemingly macrolide-resistant bacterial pathogens, these agents also possess anti-inflammatory properties, unrelated to their primary antimicrobial activity. Macrolides target cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, as well as structural cells, and are beneficial in controlling harmful inflammatory responses during acute and chronic bacterial infection. These secondary anti-inflammatory activities of macrolides appear to be particularly effective in attenuating neutrophil-mediated inflammation. This, in turn, may contribute to the usefulness of these agents in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders of both microbial and nonmicrobial origin, predominantly of the airways. This paper is focused on the various mechanisms of macrolide-mediated anti-inflammatory activity which target both microbial pathogens and the cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems, with emphasis on their clinical relevance.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/584262
spellingShingle Helen C. Steel
Annette J. Theron
Riana Cockeran
Ronald Anderson
Charles Feldman
Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide Antibiotics
Mediators of Inflammation
title Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide Antibiotics
title_full Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide Antibiotics
title_fullStr Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide Antibiotics
title_full_unstemmed Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide Antibiotics
title_short Pathogen- and Host-Directed Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Macrolide Antibiotics
title_sort pathogen and host directed anti inflammatory activities of macrolide antibiotics
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/584262
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AT rianacockeran pathogenandhostdirectedantiinflammatoryactivitiesofmacrolideantibiotics
AT ronaldanderson pathogenandhostdirectedantiinflammatoryactivitiesofmacrolideantibiotics
AT charlesfeldman pathogenandhostdirectedantiinflammatoryactivitiesofmacrolideantibiotics