Figure 1.

Proposed mechanism of AZM inhibition of bacteria induced MUC5AC secretion by airway epithelial cells. AZM suppresses the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK, which subsequently diminishes the activities of NF-κB and AP-1 via the IKKs/IκB/NF-κB and c-Jun/AP-1 signaling pathways. Inactivation of NF-κB and AP-1 reduces transcription of the MUC5AC gene.

AZM, azithromycin; MUC5AC, mucin 5AC; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; IKK, IκB kinase; AP-1, activator protein-1.