Beneficial effect of antibiotics on ciliary beat frequency of human nasal epithelial cells exposed to bacterial toxins
Authors: Mallants, Roel1; Jorissen, Mark2; Augustijns, Patrick1
Source: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Volume 60, Number 4, April 2008 , pp. 437-443(7)
Publisher: Pharmaceutical Press
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Abstract:
In the present study, we explored whether the cilio-inhibitory effect induced by toxins derived from bacterial infections could be compensated for by a cilio-stimulatory effect of antibiotics. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEC) expressing beating cilia were grown as monolayers. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was determined using an inverted microscope coupled with a high-speed digital camera. Clarithromycin and neomycin did not influence ciliary activity. Bacitracin, clindamycin, gramicidin and roxithromycin increased CBF significantly: by 50 ± 12%, 54 ± 16%, 31 ± 16% and 31 ± 18%, respectively. A 30 min exposure to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (PAL) decreased CBF significantly, by 37 ± 16 and 28 ± 12%, respectively. In contrast with exposure to the toxin alone, co-incubation of the nasal monolayer cells with PAL and bacitracin or clindamycin did not result in a decrease in CBF after 30 and 60 min. The effect of SEB could be compensated for by bacitracin but not by clindamycin. After a 12 h preincubation period with SEB, co-incubation with either bacitracin or clindamycin resulted in the complete recovery of CBF. This study suggests that topical antibiotic treatment of nasal infections could result in a dual positive effect, namely treatment of the bacterial infection and recovery of ciliary activity.Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1211/jpp.60.4.0005
Affiliations: 1: Laboratory for Pharmacotechnology and Biopharmacy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium 2: Laboratory for Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Belgium
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