Tetracyclines and host defense mechanisms: interference with leukocyte chemotaxis.

The influence of 2 etracycline preparations, lymecycline and doxycycline, on leukocyte chemotaxis, was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Doxycycline in high concentrations caused a severe depression of both spontaneous and induced migration, an effect which was more pronounced than that caused by similar concentration of lymecycline. Corresponding results were obtained both in experiments on healthy volunteers given recommended dosages of the antibiotics, and in patients treated with doxycycline for postoperative infections.