INFLUENCE OF RIFAMPICIN AND DOXYCYCLINE ON PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE BY MACROPHAGES

The influence of rifampicin and doxycycline on oxidative metabolism of macrophages was estimated in vitro by production of hydrogen peroxide. It was shown that low concentrations of rifampicin and doxycycline stimulated production of hydrogen peroxide by macrophages of guinea pigs. In concentrations of 1 to 10 mug/ml corresponding to the mean therapeutic ones doxycycline increased both the spontaneous and zymosan-induced production of hydrogen peroxide by the macrophages. The potentiating activity of dioxycycline on the cells activated by opsonized zymosan was higher. The maximum increase in the induced production of hydrogen peroxide (by 40 per cent) was observed when the antibiotic concentration was 1 mug/ml. Rifampicin in concentrations of 0.1 to 1 mug/ml corresponding to the mean therapeutic ones stimulated the zymosan-induced production of hydrogen peroxide by the macrophages. The maximum increase in the production of hydrogen peroxide (by 22 per cent) was noted at the rifampicin concentration of 1 mug/ml.