Two Different Functions of Doxycycline Which is Both An Antimicrobial Agent and An Immune Modulator

摘要

Doxycycline is a semi-synthetic tetracycline, which was invented and clinically developed in the early 1960s. Doxycyclinernworks by inhibiting protein synthesis and it is also bacteriostatic. Doxycycline is highly effective against all of therncommon pathogens that cause upper respiratory tract infections. Doxycycline is particularLY effective for the treatment ofrnatypical pneumonia due to Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and Legionella.rnRecently, doxycycline has been reported to have a biological function apart from its antimicrobial function. Doxycyclinernis known to inhibit the release of reactive oxygen species, while also inducing apoptosis, decreasing neutrophil chemotaxisrnand inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases. Regarding animal models, doxycycline is able to attenuate lung inflammationrncaused by several agents. Recently, several clinical trials using doxycycline have also been reported.rnIn this review, we provide a comprehensive, yet concise analysis of the two different functions of doxycycline, whilernparticularly focusing on respiratory diseases.