ABSTRACT
Staphylococcus infection inhibited the T-dependent immune response, increased the serum levels of the lipid peroxidation products (LPP) i.e. fatty acid diene conjugates and malonic aldehyde and lowered the activity of the antioxidant system enzymes (ASE) i.e. superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase in erythrocytes. After administration of amikacin or cephalexin the immunosuppressive effect induced by the staphylococci increased while the LPP content and the ASE activity in the infected host did not change. After injection of erythrocytes extracorporeally treated with the antibiotics the immune response increased, the LPP content decreased and the ASE activity increased. The free antibiotics increased the excretion of suppressing cytokines by glass adherent spleen cells. The antibiotic-treated erythrocytes induced the excretion of low molecular weight helper cytokines and high molecular weight antioxidant factors by the adherent spleen cells.
