The effect of short-term oral treatment with omeprazole or pantoprazole on the function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Recent studies report an increased risk of enteric infections in patients treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play a key role in host response to bacterial infection. We have evaluated the effect of omeprazole and pantoprazole treatment on the PMNs function. Fifteen patients were treated with omeprazole 20 mg daily and 15 patients with pantoprazole 40 mg daily for 7 days. Treatment with omeprazole or pantoprazole had no effect on spontaneous nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test results. Significant increase in the percentage of phagocytes in the omeprazole group in stimulated NBT test (by 69%) was found. Treatment with omeprazole or pantoprazole had no effect on nitric oxide (NO) concentration in the PMNsâ culture supernatant and serum, cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentration in the PMNsâ culture supernatant and serum as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in PMNs. In conclusion, treatment with PPI has no effect on NO production and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in PMNs. Interestingly, short-term treatment with omeprazole but not with pantoprazole enhances PMNs reactive oxygen species production.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author