Steroids reduce inflammation in chronic mycobacterial lung infections without limiting antimicrobial defense
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin and St. James's Hospital have shown that dexamethasone, a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory steroid, can reduce harmful inflammation triggered by Mycobacterium avium without weakening the ability of human immune cells to control the infection.
A research team from Trinity College Dublin and St. James's Hospital has discovered that dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid commonly used in medicine, can effectively reduce harmful inflammation caused by a specific strain of bacteria known as Mycobacterium avium. This reduction occurs without diminishing the immune cells' ability to combat the infection.
The findings, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, suggest that dexamethasone could potentially serve as a new adjunct treatment for nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease, a condition that affects a growing number of people worldwide, especially those with chronic lung issues.
NTM infections are a significant global health concern, particularly among individuals with chronic lung diseases. While current treatments involve prolonged courses of multiple antibiotics, many patients still experience persistent symptoms driven by inflammation. Traditionally, steroids have been avoided in NTM disease as they could potentially suppress the immune response during the infection.
The research team, based at the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, examined how human macrophages, which serve as the body's first line of defense against infection, respond to Mycobacterium avium when exposed to dexamethasone. They found that dexamethasone treatment significantly decreased infection-driven metabolic activity in macrophages and reduced the production of inflammatory signals. Importantly, the steroid reduced inflammation without increasing bacterial growth within these immune cells.
These findings, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, provide a promising new approach for managing NTM disease. Unlike existing treatments that primarily focus on killing the bacteria, this new strategy aims to control inflammation without compromising the immune system's ability to control the infection. The researchers hope that dexamethasone could be used as an adjunct therapy alongside antibiotics to provide more effective and patient-friendly treatments for this challenging condition.
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