Cefodizime modulates in vitro tumor necrosis factor-alpha, lnterleukin-6 and lnterleukin-8 release from human peripheral monocytes

Among third-generation cephalosporins, cefodizime (CFDZ) has shown to modulate many functions of the host defense system against infections. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro CFDZ-dependent modulation of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-8 release from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human peripheral mononuclear cells (MNCs). Two other third-generation cephalosporins: Ceftriaxone (CFX) and ceftazidime (CFT), were also tested under the same experimental conditions. At concentrations ranging from 200 to 50 ng/ml, CFDZ significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 release from maximally (LPS 1 μg/ ml) stimulated MNCs (42% inhibition of TNF-α release with 100 μg/ml of CFDZ). On the other hand, CFDZ revealed a marked stimulatory effect on IL-8 release (200 μg/ml of CFDZ induced 51.5% enhancement of IL-8 release). On the contrary, both CFX and CFT failed to exert any significant effect on TNF-α, IL-6 or IL-8 release.