Effects of a Novel Nonantibiotic Macrolide, EM900, on Cytokine and Mucin Gene Expression in a Human Airway Epithelial Cell Line

Background/Aims: Long-term macrolide therapy is an effective treatment for chronic sinusitis and diffuse panbronchiolitis. However, long-term use of macrolides may promote the growth of drug-resistant bacteria; therefore, development of macrolides with no antibacterial action is desirable. A new erythromycin (EM) derivative, (8R,9S)-8,9- dihydro-6,9-epoxy-8,9-anhydropseudoerythromycin A (EM900), does not possess antibacterial action. Methods: To determine whether EM900 induced a clinically relevant antiinflammatory response and repressed mucin gene expression in cells derived from human airway epithelia, we assessed the effects of EM900 on IL-1 beta-induced inflammatory cytokines in A549 cells and MUC5AC gene expression in HM3-MUC5AC cells. We also investigated the effects of EM900 on IL-1 beta-induced NF-kappa B activation. We performed reporter gene assays and quantitative PCR in A549 and HM3-MUC5AC cells. Results: Both EM and EM900 suppressed IL1 beta-induced IL-8 expression in A549 cells. EM900 also suppressed IL-1 beta-induced IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha expression in A549 cells. EM900 inhibited IL-1 beta-induced MUC5AC expression in HM3-MUC5AC cells. Both EM and EM900 suppressed IL-1 beta-induced NF-kappa B activation in A549 cells. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that EM900 suppressed the induction of inflammatory cytokines and MUC5AC gene expression in cells derived from human airway epithelia, and our findings indicate that these effects may be mediated by the suppression of NF-kappa B activation. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel