The Antibiotic Kitasamycin—A Potential Agent for Specific Fibrosis Preventing Therapy after Fistulating Glaucoma Surgery?

Abstract

One major complication after fistulating glaucoma surgeries are fibroblast-mediated scarring processes and their specific prevention is key in the development of novel pharmaceutical concepts. Within this study a possible antifibrotic potential of kitasamycin (KM) in a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-mediated fibroblast model was evaluated in vitro. Primary ocular fibroblasts were isolated, cultivated and a dose–response test including determination of the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) for KM was conducted. Transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts was induced by TGF-β1and immunofluorescence (IF), and Western blot (WB) analyses were performed with fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. IF analyses were carried out using antibodies against α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin, and protein detection of intracellular and extracellular proteins was performed by WB. Using the dose–response test, the viability, cytotoxicity and EC50 of KM after 24 and 48 h were determined. Fibroblasts exposed to various KM concentrations showed no increase in α-SMA and extracellular matrix expression. In TGF-ß1-stimulated myofibroblasts, KM inhibited the expression of α-SMA and fibronectin in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that KM could impair the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and the expression of proteins involved in fibrotic processes, representing a potential agent for specific fibrosis prevention in future therapeutic concepts.

Subtherapeutic Kitasamycin Promoted Fat Accumulation in the Longissimus Dorsi Muscle in Growing–Finishing Pigs

“…However, the underlying mechanisms of antibiotics-induced metabolic changes through gut microbiota remain unknown. Kitasamycin (KM), a macrolide antibiotic, has extensive applications in treating upper respiratory tract diseases and dysentery caused by Gram-positive bacteria, Mycoplasma, and Rickettsia in humans and animals [1,12]. Its inhibitory effects on protein synthesis make it valuable in various therapeutic contexts, including fibrosis prevention after fistulating glaucoma surgery [12].…”

“…Kitasamycin (KM), a macrolide antibiotic, has extensive applications in treating upper respiratory tract diseases and dysentery caused by Gram-positive bacteria, Mycoplasma, and Rickettsia in humans and animals [1,12]. Its inhibitory effects on protein synthesis make it valuable in various therapeutic contexts, including fibrosis prevention after fistulating glaucoma surgery [12]. In both weaned piglets and growing-finishing pigs, KM has been shown to inhibit diarrhea, but has adverse effects on intestinal barrier function [13,14].…”