Effect of roxithromycin on T lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production elicited by mite antigen.

Abstract Clinical evidence suggests that roxithromycin (RXM) may be an effective additional therapy for bronchial asthma. However, how it interferes with allergic responses is unclear. To investigate the mechanisms of action of RXM, lymphocyte transformation and interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 synthesis associated with Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), mite antigen in patients with bronchial asthma were evaluated in vitro in the presence of RXM. T cell proliferation in Df antigen-stimulated patients' lymphocytes was suppressed by 50–100 μg/ml of RXM. Production of IL-4 and IL-5 was similarly decreased by 1–10 μg/ml RXM, whereas, IFN-γ production, which was reduced by Df-stimulation alone, was increased by 50 μg/ml RXM. Our results suggest that skewed cytokine profiles of patients with mite antigen-induced bronchial asthma may be corrected with RXM, which may mimic those of patients in remission, who are tolerant of Df antigen.