Co-amoxiclav affects cytokine production by human polymorphonuclear cells

Some antimicrobial agents have been reported to modify the host immune responses both in vivo and in vitro. As we demonstrated previously that co-amoxiclav had beneficial properties which result in enhancement of the microbicidal functions of human poly-morphonuclear cell (PMNs), we investigated the modulatory effect of this combination on cytokine production by human PMNs in vitro. The addition of co-amoxiclav elicited the production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated PMNs of substantial amounts of some cytokines, namely IL-8 and IL-1β, after the addition of Klebsiella pneumoniae. These cytokine levels were higher than those obtained by PMNs incubated in culture medium only, without co-amoxiclav.