Modification of Natural Immunity in Mice by Imipenem/Cilastatin

• Published in: Journal of antibiotics Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 502 - 508
• Main Authors: ORTEGA, ELENA, PABLO, MANUEL A. DE, GALLEGO, AURELIA Ma, ALVAREZ, CARMEN, PANCORBO, PEDRO L., RUIZ-BRAVO, ALFONSO, CIENFUEGOS, GERARDO ALVAREZ DE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo JAPAN ANTIBIOTICS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION 1997; Japan Antibiotics Research Association
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Count - drug effects; Cilastatin - pharmacology; Cilastatin, Imipenem Drug Combination; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination - pharmacology; Imipenem - pharmacology; Immunity, Innate - drug effects; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Leukocytes - drug effects; Leukocytes - immunology; Leukocytes - metabolism; Macrophages, Peritoneal - cytology; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - immunology; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Peritoneal Cavity - cytology; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Intraperitoneal administration; Enzyme; Rodentia; Cilastatin; Cytokine; Enzyme inhibitor; Natural immunity; In vitro; Peptidases; Vertebrata; Antibiotic; Carbapenem derivatives; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Interleukin 1; Hydrolases; Non specific immunity; Killer cell; Antibacterial agent; Imipenem; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0021-8820; 1881-1469
• DOI: 10.7164/antibiotics.50.502

The imipenem/cilastatin constitutes a broad spectrum β-lactam antibiotic formulation, especially used in pre and post-operatory treatments for transplanted or drug-immunosuppresed patients. The effect of the dose and the duration of the treatment with imipenem/cilastatin on some parameters of natural immunity in BALB/c mice were examined. The treatment by intraperitoneal route with 1 or 2 g/70 kg/day during 7 days did not alter significantly the parameters tested, whereas the greater dose used (4 g/70 kg/day) had an inhibitory effect on peritoneal cell counts and phagocytic activity, as well as it caused an increase on IL-1 production and natural killer activity. The greater stimulating effect of innate immunity was obtained with the lowest imipenem/cilastatin dose used (0.5 g/70 kg/day). Since this antibiotic apparently does not impair the studied innate immune responses at 1 or 2 g/70 kg/day, it seems to be especially suited for the therapy of systemic bacterial infections in immunocompromised patients.