Effects of Roxithromycin on Proliferation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Production of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cytokines

Roxithromycin (RXM), a new macrolide antibiotic, has a 14-member macrocycline ring structure which is similar to that of erythromycin. We investigated the effects of RXM on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the production of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) by PBMCs stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At concentrations greater than 25.0 μg/ml, RXM suppressed the proliferation of PBMCs stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, probably due to cytotoxicity. When the PBMCs were incubated with RXM for 7d, the number of adherent cells (monocyte/macrophages) increased. Incubation with RXM at a concentration of 25.0 μg/ml induced the greatest increase (p