Research from Felsenstein Medical Research Center in the area of tuberculosis therapy published
2008 JAN 14 -- Fresh data on tuberculosis are presented in the report 'Rifampin inhibits prostaglandin E2 production and arachidonic acid release in human alveolar epithelial cells.' "Rifampin, a potent antimicrobial agent, is a major drug in the treatment of tuberculosis. There is evidence that rifampin also serves as an immunomodulator," scientists writing in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy report. "Based on findings that arachidonic acid and its metabolites are involved in the pathogeneses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, we investigated whether rifampin affects prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in human alveolar epithelial cells stimulated with interleukin-1beta. Rifampin caused a dose-dependent inhibition of PGE(2) production. At doses of 100, 50, and 25 microg/ml, it inhibited PGE(2) production by 75%, 59%, and 45%, respectively (p <0.001). Regarding the mechanism involved, rifampin caused a time-and dose-dependent inhibition of arachidonic acid release from the alveolar cells. At doses of 100, 50, 25, and 10 mug/ml, it significantly inhibited the release of arachidonic acid by 93%, 64%, 58%, and 35%, respectively (p <0.001). Rifampin did not affect the phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) or the expression of cyclooxygenase-2," wrote Y. Yuhas and colleagues, Felsenstein Medical Research Center. The researchers concluded: "The inhibition of PGE(2), and presumably other arachidonic acid products, probably contributes to the efficacy of rifampin in the treatment of tuberculosis and may explain some of its adverse effects." Yuhas and colleagues published their study in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (Rifampin inhibits prostaglandin E2 production and arachidonic acid release in human alveolar epithelial cells. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2007;51(12):4225-30). Additional information can be obtained by contacting Y. Yuhas, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva 49100, Israel. The publisher of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy can be contacted at: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA. Keywords: Israel, Tuberculosis Therapy, Antimicrobials, Chemotherapy, Cutaneous Tuberculosis, Drug Therapy, Drugs, Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Pharmaceuticals, Rifampin, Treatment. This article was prepared by Tuberculosis Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Tuberculosis Week via NewsRx.com.
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