Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC)

November 2004     View PDF     En español

Cytokines

Because MAC bacteria often live in cells called macrophages, new treatments for MAC may target these cells. Macrophages are scavenger cells that eat up and kill bacteria and viruses. They circulate in the blood or live in organs like the liver, spleen or lungs. In people with HIV, macrophages can eat but not kill MAC bacteria. The bacteria grow inside the macrophages and can be spread through the body.

Cells of the immune system release chemicals, called cytokines, that enable them to signal and work with each other to fight infections. In the future, cytokines may be given to enhance the effect of anti-MAC drugs by helping macrophages kill MAC bacteria. A study combining azithromycin with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is looking at this, and interleukin-12 (IL-12) is in early studies as well. For more information on cytokines, read Project Inform's publication, Immune Therapies: Cytokines.