Effect of cefotaxime on cytokine production in newborns and adults in vitro

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 54; no. 7; pp. 410 - 414
• Main Authors: Bessler, H., Gurary, N., Aloni, D., Vishne, T.H., Sirota, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier SAS 01.08.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; cefotaxime; Cefotaxime - pharmacology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cephalosporins - pharmacology; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Infant, Newborn; Interleukin-1 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; interleukins; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Lymphotoxin-alpha - biosynthesis; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; neonates; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; cefotaxime; neonates; interleukins; Human; Cefotaxime; β-Lactams; Cytokine; Interleukin 1β; In vitro; Blood; Interleukin 6; Antibiotic; Cephalosporin derivatives; Mononuclear cell; Newborn; Interleukin 2; Adult; Umbilical cord; Antibacterial agent; Tumor necrosis factor α
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/S0753-3322(01)80009-3

The in vitro effect of cefotaxime on the production of interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-2, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) was studied in term neonates and was compared with that of adults. The addition of cefotaxime caused a significant enhancement of IL-2 production by cells of both adults and neonates, and increased the secretion of TNFα by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of adults, whereas the synthesis of this cytokine by cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) of the newborns was not affected. In contrast with the described stimulatory effects of cefotaxime, this drug induced dose-dependent inhibition of the spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)induced IL-1β production by cells of the two groups, but had no effect on the in vitro production of IL-6 These data suggest that cefotaxime, apart from its known antimicrobial activity, may modify the host immune response of both newborns and adults, via the alteration of cytokine production. © 2000 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS