Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor by macrolides in cultured fibroblasts from nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVE

In order to study a new mechanism of efficacy of 14-membered ring macrolides in treating chronic rhinosinusitis, inhibitory effects of macrolides on vascular endothelial growth factor production were examined in vitro.

METHODS

Vascular endothelisal growth factor production in cultured fibloblasts from human nasal polyps obtained from surgery for chronic paranasal sinusitis stimulated by hypoxia or tumor necrosis factor-alpha was assessed under the administration of Clarithromycin or Roxisthromycin by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain-reaction.

RESULTS

Dose-dependent inhibitory effects on vascular endothelisal growth factor production stimulated by hypoxia or tumor necrosis factor-alpha were noted in the groups treated with Clarithromycin and Roxisthromycin, including inhibition of vascular endothelisal growth factor mRNA levels.

CONCLUSION

While, to date, several evidences have indicated that the mechanisms by which 14-membered ring macrolides reduce inflammation are not simply bactericidal, these results suggest another new mechanism of efficacy of macrolides in treating chronic rhinosinusitis.