Clinical response to azithromycin in cystic fibrosis correlates with in vitro effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa phenotypes

Dao Nguyen, Mary J. Emond, Nicole Mayer-Hamblett, Lisa Saiman, Bruce C. Marshall, Jane L. Burns

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 6-month clinical trial of azithromycin (AZM) in American cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection showed clinical improvement without significant reduction in bacterial density. Sub-inhibitory AZM has been hypothesized to affect P. aeruginosa virulence, partly contributing to the mechanism of action of AZM. To correlate bacterial phenotypes of P. aeruginosa isolates with clinical response to AZM in CF patients. Pre-treatment P. aeruginosa isolates from subjects randomized to AZM in the US trial were characterized for bacterial phenotypes: AZM minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), mucoidy, and baseline and AZM effects on twitching and swimming motility, and production of pyocyanin, protease and phospholipase C (PLC). Initial analyses of a subset of subjects identified phenotypes most strongly associated with FEV1 response and pulmonary exacerbation. These phenotypes were subsequently characterized and tested in isolates from subjects of the complete AZM cohort. Exploratory analyses of the initial subset suggested that the MIC and in vitro change in PLC and swimming motility with AZM were the strongest candidates among the bacterial phenotypes. When tested, only the change in PLC was significantly correlated with the change in FEV1 (P=0.05), and occurrence and time to pulmonary exacerbation (both P=0.02). In the complete cohort, change in PLC continued to show significant correlation with FEV 1 response (P=0.006), but not exacerbation. The in vitro effect of AZM on PLC correlates with FEV1 response to AZM. This suggests that AZM anti-virulence effects may be predictive of clinical response and play a role in the mechanism of action of AZM in CF patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)533-541
Number of pages9
JournalPediatric pulmonology
Volume42
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Azithromycin
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Macrolide antibiotics
  • Phospholipase C
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Clinical response to azithromycin in cystic fibrosis correlates with in vitro effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa phenotypes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this