In Vitro Impact of Macrolide Antibiotics on the Viability of Selected Mammalian Cell Lines

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of different concentrations of macrolide antibiotics (tilmicosin-TILM, tylosin-TYL and spiramycin-SPI) on selected animal cell cultures. VERO cells (kidney cells from Macacus rhesus), FE cells (feline embryonal cells) and BHK 21 cells (cell line from young hamster kidneys) were used in the study and subjected to 50-1000 µg/mL macrolides, depending on the specific antibiotic and cell line. The cell viability was assessed using the metabolic mitochondrial MTT test. FE cells were the most sensitive to TILM with a significant decrease of viability at 100-150 µg/mL (P<0.001). VERO cells were the most resistant. FE cells showed the highest sensitivity to TYL, as 1000 µg/mL significantly reduced the cell viability (P<0.001) when compared to the untreated control. VERO cells exhibited the highest resilience, with no significant differences of viability in comparison to the control. BHK 21 cells exhibited the highest sensitivity to SPI, as all concentrations led to a significant decrease (P<0.001) of the viability. On the other hand, VERO cells revealed the highest resistance to SPI. Our data reveal that macrolides have a significant adverse effect on the cell viability.

Keywords

• cell cultures
• macrolides
• mitochondrial activity
• spiramycin
• tilmicosin
• tylosin