Upregulatory effects of cefpimizole natrium on human leukocytes.

Cefpimizole natrium (CPIZ), an antibiotic belonging to the cephalosporins, was examined regarding its influence on neutrophil functions. Neutrophil superoxide (O2-) generation increased by intravenous CPIZ in patients with maxillofacial diseases. In vitro examination revealed that CPIZ directly stimulates neutrophils to generate O2- in a dose-dependent manner, though the induction ability is not as strong as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Protein kinase C (PKC) activity in the neutrophil plasma membrane increased after CPIZ treatment, while the activity in the cytosol fraction decreased. CPIZ cooperated with biological response modifiers (BRMs) such as sizofilan, lentinan, OK-432, rIL-2 and rIFN-gamma in neutrophil O2- generation. Non-specific cytotoxicity against K562 cells and candida cells was also enhanced by neutrophil pretreatment with both CPIZ and one of the BRMs except for sizofilan and rIL-2. From these results it can be concluded that CPIZ directly enhanced neutrophil O2- generation and that these CPIZ activations are further beneficial to protection against bacterial infections.