| Title | Erythromycin attenuates MUC5AC synthesis and secretion in cultured human tracheal cells infected with RV14. | ||
| Author | Inoue, Daisuke; Kubo, Hiroshi; Sasaki, Takahiko; Yasuda, Hiroyasu; Numasaki, Muneo; Sasaki, Hidetada; Yamaya, Mutsuo | ||
| Journal | Respirology | Publication Year/Month | 2008-Mar |
| PMID | 18339018 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation | 1.Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan. dinoue@world.ocn.ne.jp. | ||
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The common cold is a major cause of asthma exacerbation and chronic obstructive lung disease. Rhinovirus is reported to be responsible for more than 50% of cases of the common cold. In a previous study, we reported that rhinovirus infection of cultured airway cells induced MUC5AC mucin overproduction and hypersecretion by activating the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p44/42 MAPK) pathway. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of erythromycin on RV14-induced airway mucin overproduction and hypersecretion. METHODS: RV14-infected human tracheal epithelial cells were treated with erythromycin. RESULTS: Erythromycin blocked RV14-induced MUC5AC protein overproduction and hypersecretion, and also blocked RV14-induced p44/42 MAPK activation in the cells. CONCLUSIONS: Erythromycin may attenuate RV14-induced MUC5AC overproduction and hypersecretion by blocking the p44/42 MAPK pathway or its upstream regulators.