Role of prophylactic azithromycin to reduce airway inflammation and mortality in a RSV mouse infection model.
Pediatr Pulmonol
; 53(5): 567-574, 2018 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29405608
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations. Macrolides have received considerable attention for their anti-inflammatory actions beyond their antibacterial effect. We hypothesize that prophylactic azithromycin will be effective in reducing the severity of RSV infection in a mouse model.METHODS:
Four groups of BALB/c mice were studied for 8 days Control (C), RSV-infected (R), early prophylaxis with daily azithromycin from days 1 to 8, (E), and late prophylaxis with daily azithromycin from days 4 to 8 (L). Mice were infected with RSV on day 4, except for the control group. All groups were followed for a total of 8 days when bronchoalveolar lavage cell count and cytokines levels were measured. Mouse weight, histopathology, and mortality data were obtained.RESULTS:
Prophylactic azithromycin significantly attenuated post-viral weight loss between group R and both groups E and L (P = 0.0236, 0.0179, respectively). IL-6, IL-5, and Interferon-Gamma were significantly lower in group L (P = 0.0294, 0.0131, and 0.0056, respectively) compared with group R. The total cell count was significantly lower for group L as compared with group R (P < 0.05). Mortality was only observed in group R (8%). Lung histology in the prophylactic groups showed diminished inflammatory infiltrates and cellularity when compared with group R.CONCLUSION:
Prophylactic azithromycin effectively reduced weight loss, airway inflammation, cytokine levels and mortality in RSV-infected mice. These results support the rationale for future clinical trials to evaluate the effects of prophylactic azithromycin for RSV infection.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
/
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
/
Azithromycin
/
Antibiotic Prophylaxis
/
Inflammation
/
Lung
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Pediatr Pulmonol
Journal subject:
PEDIATRIA
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article