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Beneficial ex vivo immunomodulatory and clinical effects of clarithromycin in COVID-19.
Snow, Timothy Arthur Chandos; Longobardo, Alessia; Brealey, David; Down, Jim; Satta, Giovanni; Singer, Mervyn; Arulkumaran, Nishkantha.
  • Snow TAC; Bloomsbury Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, UK.
  • Longobardo A; Bloomsbury Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, UK.
  • Brealey D; Bloomsbury Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, UK; Critical Care Unit, University College London Hospital, UK.
  • Down J; Critical Care Unit, University College London Hospital, UK.
  • Satta G; Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College London, London, UK.
  • Singer M; Bloomsbury Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, UK.
  • Arulkumaran N; Bloomsbury Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University College London, UK. Electronic address: nisharulkumaran@doctors.org.uk.
J Infect Chemother ; 28(7): 948-954, 2022 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1851524
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

Macrolide antibiotics have immunomodulatory properties which may be beneficial in viral infections. However, the precise effects of macrolides on T cell responses to COVID, differences between different macrolides, and synergistic effects with other antibiotics have not been explored.

METHODS:

We investigated the effect of antibiotics (amoxicillin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and combined amoxicillin with clarithromycin) on lymphocyte intracellular cytokine levels and monocyte phagocytosis in healthy volunteer PBMCs stimulated ex vivo with SARS-CoV-2 S1+2 spike protein. A retrospective cohort study was performed on intensive care COVID-19 patients.

RESULTS:

Co-incubation of clarithromycin with spike protein-stimulated healthy volunteer PBMCs ex vivo resulted in an increase in CD8+ (p = 0.004) and CD4+ (p = 0.007) IL-2, with a decrease in CD8+ (p = 0.032) and CD4+ (p = 0.007) IL-10. The addition of amoxicillin to clarithromycin resulted in an increase in CD8+ IL-6 (p = 0.010), decrease in CD8+ (p = 0.014) and CD4+ (p = 0.022) TNF-alpha, and decrease in CD8+ IFN-alpha (p = 0.038). Amoxicillin alone had no effect on CD4+ or CD8+ cytokines. Co-incubation of azithromycin resulted in increased CD8+ (p = 0.007) and CD4+ (p = 0.011) IL-2. There were no effects on monocyte phagocytosis. 102 COVID-19 ICU patients received antibiotics on hospital admission; 62 (61%) received clarithromycin. Clarithromycin use was associated with reduction in mortality on univariate analysis (p = 0.023), but not following adjustment for confounders (HR = 0.540; p = 0.076).

CONCLUSIONS:

Clarithromycin has immunomodulatory properties over and above azithromycin. Amoxicillin in addition to clarithromycin is associated with synergistic ex vivo immunomodulatory properties. The potential benefit of clarithromycin in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and other viral pneumonitis merits further exploration.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Clarithromycin / COVID-19 Drug Treatment Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Variants Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Infect Chemother Journal subject: Microbiology / Drug Therapy Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.jiac.2022.04.001

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Clarithromycin / COVID-19 Drug Treatment Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Variants Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Infect Chemother Journal subject: Microbiology / Drug Therapy Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.jiac.2022.04.001