Description
Azithromycin is an azalide macrolide antibiotic derived from erythromycin. Azithromycin binds the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting protein translation. Azithromycin displays antibacterial, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory activities. In epithelial cells, azithromycin inhibits the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inhibiting expression of Smad3. Additionally, azithromycin inhibits production of arachidonic acid, eicosanoids, IL-6, and IL-12 in LPS-stimulated macrophages.
References
Bakheit AH, Al-Hadiya BM, Abd-Elgalil AA. Azithromycin. Profiles Drug Subst Excip Relat Methodol. 2014;39:1-40. PMID: 24794904.
Medina CA, Rowe AM, Yun H, et al. Azithromycin treatment increases survival of high-risk corneal allotransplants. Cornea. 2013 May;32(5):658-66. PMID: 23407315.
Banerjee B, Musk M, Sutanto EN, et al. Regional differences in susceptibiity of bronchial epithelium to mesenchymal transition and inhibition by the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e52309. PMID: 23284981.
Banjanac M, Munić Kos V, Nujić K, et al. Anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of azithromycin in LPS-stimulated J774A.1 cells. Pharmacol Res. 2012 Oct;66(4):357-62. PMID: 22766077.
Togami K, Chono S, Morimoto K. Distribution characteristics of clarithromycin and azithromycin, macrolide antimicrobial agents used for treatment of respiratory infections, in lung epithelial lining fluid and alveolar macrophages. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 2011 Oct;32(7):389-397. PMID: 21812004.
