CEFODIZIME MODULATES IN-VITRO TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA, INTERLEUKIN-6 AND INTERLEUKIN-8 RELEASE FROM HUMAN PERIPHERAL MONOCYTES

Among third-generation cephalosporins, cefodizime (CFDZ) has shown to modulate many functions of the host defense system against infections. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro CFDZ-dependent modulation of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-8 release from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human peripheral mononuclear cells (MNCs). Two other third-generation cephalosporins: ceftriaxone (CFX) and ceftazidime (CFT), were also tested under the same experimental conditions. At concentrations ranging from 200 to 50 mu g/ml, CFDZ significantly decreased TNF-alpha and IL-6 release from maximally (LPS 1 mu g/ml) stimulated MNCs (42% inhibition of TNF-alpha release with 100 mu g/ml of CFDZ). On the other hand, CFDZ revealed a marked stimulatory effect on IL-8 release (200 mu g/ml of CFDZ induced 51.5% enhancement of IL-8 release). On the contrary, both CDC and CFT failed to exert any significant effect on TNF-alpha, IL-6 or IL-8 release.