Description
Roxithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic that exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-asthma, vasodilatory, antibacterial, and anti-arthritic activities; it binds to the 50S ribosome, inhibiting protein synthesis. In animal models of ovalbumin-induced asthma, roxithromycin decreases the number of inflammatory cells and airway hyperresponsiveness and suppresses levels of IgE, inflammatory cytokines, and activated NF-κB. Roxithromycin also induces vascular relaxation ex vivo in arteries and thoracic aorta segments. In macrophages, this compound inhibits T cell production of TNF-α and IL-6; in animal models of arthritis, it inhibits T cell migration and decreases disease severity.
References
Ci X, Chu X, Xu X, et al. Short-term roxithromycin treatment attenuates airway inflammation via MAPK/NF-κB activation in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Inflamm Res. 2012 Jul;61(7):749-58. PMID: 22481373.
Biava M, Porretta GC, Deidda D, et al. New trends in development of antimycobacterial compounds. Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2006 Jun;6(2):159-72. PMID: 16789877.
Urasaki Y, Nori M, Iwata S, et al. Roxithromycin specifically inhibits development of collagen induced arthritis and production of proinflammatory cytokines by human T cells and macrophages. J Rheumatol. 2005 Sep;32(9):1765-74. PMID: 16142877.
Berman M, Hasdai D, Raanani E, et al. Ex-vivo effect of roxithromycin on human and rat arterial vasoactivity. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2005 Jun;4(3):232-7. PMID: 17670399.
