Abstract
Anti-inflammatory effects of erythromycin have drawn notice to its clinical application for chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases. Since dendritic cells have been shown to play pivotal roles in antigen sensitization and exacerbation of allergic inflammation, we examined the effects of erythromycin on the function of dendritic cells activated with pathogen-derived stimuli and helper T cell activation. As a results, erythromycin selectively inhibited expressions of costimulatory molecules and cytokine production by dendritic cells stimulated with poly (I:C) and LPS, but not with peptidoglycan. Erythromycin suppressed IFN regulatory factor-3 activation and IFN-β production induced by poly(I:C) and LPS, and suppressed poly (I:C)-mediated differentiation of naïve T cells into Th1 effector cells. Moreover, erythromycin suppressed IL-17 production by memory T cells that were activated by PGN-stimulated dendritic cells. These results collectively suggest that erythromycin presents anti-inflammatory effects depending on the nature of pathogen-derived stimuli, and thereby modulates allergic inflammation.
