Abstract OBJECTIVE: Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) can induce injuries of pulmonary II epithelial cells, activate nuclear factor-κB and increase tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) secretion. This study aimed to investigate whether azithromycin can protect pulmonary II epithelial cells from injuries induced by CSE and relevant mechanisms. METHODS: Pulmonary II epithelial cells (A549 cells) were cultured in vitro. After 48 hrs of culture the cells were randomly treated with serum-free DMEM only (blank control group), azithromycin + serum-free DMEM, CSE+ serum-free DMEM or CSE+azithromycin. Eight hours later the morphology of A549 cells, the activity of NF-κB and the levels of TNF-α were measured by inverted microscope, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. RESULTS: The morphology and structure of A549 cells were changed, NF-κB activity increased (dark brown staining ) and TNF-α levels (0.307±0.036 pg/mL vs 0.234±0.028 pg/mL)increased in the CSE+ serum-free DMEM group compared with the blank control group (P<0.01). CSE together with azithromycin treatment recovered partly the morphological injuries of A549 cells. It also attenuated NF-κB staining and decreased TNF-α levels from 0.307±0.036 pg/mL (CSE+serum-free DMEM group) to 0.269±0.009 pg/mL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Azithromycin may inhibit NF-κB activity, decrease TNF-α secretion and thus lessen cytotoxicity of CSE to A549 cells.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2007, 9 (1) :63-66］
ZHANG Xiao-Rong,DUO Li-Kun,XU Pei-Ru et al. Protection of azithromycin against pulmonary II epithelial cell injuries induced by cigarette smoke extract and relevant mechanisms[J]. 中国当代儿科杂志, 2007, 9(1): 63-66.
ZHANG Xiao-Rong,DUO Li-Kun,XU Pei-Ru et al. Protection of azithromycin against pulmonary II epithelial cell injuries induced by cigarette smoke extract and relevant mechanisms[J]. CJCP, 2007, 9(1): 63-66.
