Azithromycin and ciprofloxacin have a chloroquine-like effect on respiratory epithelial cells.

There is interest in the use of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) and azithromycin (AZT) in COVID-19 therapy. Employing cystic fibrosis respiratory epithelial cells, here we show that drugs AZT and ciprofloxacin (CPX) act as acidotropic lipophilic weak bases and confer in vitro effects on intracellular organelles similar to the effects of CQ. These seemingly disparate FDA-approved antimicrobials display a common property of modulating pH of endosomes and trans-Golgi network.

Chloroquine normalizes aberrant transforming growth factor beta activity in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) remains a fatal progressive disease in spite of the discovery and characterization of the CFTR gene. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has been implicated in pathophysiology of CF. Previous reports have shown the trans-Golgi network (TGN) is hyperacdified in CF epithelial cells in culture and that this hyperacidification can be corrected with the membrane permeant weak base, chloroquine.

Perception of risk associated with asthma research procedures among adolescents, parents, and pediatricians.

Background: Little empirical data exist about how adolescents with asthma, their parents, and pediatricians view the risks and benefits associated with asthma clinical research.

Objective: Two studies examined similarities and differences in the perception of risks and benefits associated with asthma research.

Methods: In study I questionnaires were completed by adolescents with asthma and parents at the end of an audio and written presentation of a hypothetical research vignette.

VEGF regulates remodeling during permanent anatomic closure of the ductus arteriosus.

Anatomic remodeling and permanent closure of the newborn ductus arteriosus appears to require the development of intense hypoxia within the constricted vessel wall. Hypoxic ductus smooth muscle cells express vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). We studied premature baboons and sheep to determine the effects of VEGF inhibition (in baboons) and VEGF stimulation (in sheep) on ductus remodeling in vivo.