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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022Given the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need to repurpose approved drugs with known pharmacology and toxicology as an alternative...
Given the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need to repurpose approved drugs with known pharmacology and toxicology as an alternative therapeutic strategy. We have reported that the sustained monotherapy of auranofin (AUR) inevitably resulted in reduced susceptibility or even the emergence of resistance to AUR in However, whether drug combination could increase antibacterial activity while preventing AUR resistance is still unknown. Here, we focused on the important role of AUR combined with phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in skin infection and determined the synergistic antimicrobial effect on by using checkerboard assays and time-kill kinetics analysis. This synergistic antimicrobial activity correlated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, disruption of bacterial cell structure, and inhibition of biofilm formation. We also showed that AUR synergized with PEITC effectively restored the susceptibility to AUR regulating thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and rescued mice from subcutaneous abscesses through eliminating pathogens, including methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Collectively, our study indicated that the AUR and PEITC combination had a synergistic antimicrobial impact on and . These results suggest that AUR and PEITC treatment may be a promising option for infection.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Auranofin; Isothiocyanates; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 35774400
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.927289 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023Microbe entry through catheter ports can lead to biofilm accumulation and complications from catheter-related bloodstream infection and ultimately require antimicrobial...
Microbe entry through catheter ports can lead to biofilm accumulation and complications from catheter-related bloodstream infection and ultimately require antimicrobial treatment and catheter replacement. Although strides have been made with microbial prevention by applying standardized antiseptic techniques during catheter implantation, both bacterial and fungal microbes can present health risks to already sick individuals. To reduce microbial adhesion, murine and human catheters were coated with polyurethane and auranofin using a dip coating method and compared to non-coated materials. Upon passage of fluid through the coated material , flow dynamics were not impacted. The unique antimicrobial properties of the coating material auranofin has shown inhibitory activity against bacteria such as and fungi such as . Auranofin coating on catheters at 10mg/mL reduced . accumulation from 2.0 x 10 to 7.8 x 10 CFU for mouse catheters and from 1.6 x 10 to 2.8 x 10 for human catheters, showing an impact to mature biofilms. Assessment of a dual microbe biofilm on auranofin-coated catheters resulted in a 2-log reduction in . and a 3-log reduction in . compared to uncoated catheters. assessment in a murine subcutaneous model demonstrated that catheters coated with 10 mg/mL auranofin reduced independent . and . accumulation by 4-log and 1-log, respectively, compared to non-coated catheters. In conclusion, the auranofin-coated catheters demonstrate proficiency at inhibiting multiple pathogens by decreasing . and . biofilm accumulation.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Auranofin; Staphylococcus aureus; Bacteria; Biofilms; Candida albicans; Catheters
PubMed: 37313344
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1135942 -
Biomolecules Jan 2022Breast cancers (BCs) may present dramatic diagnoses, both for ineffective therapies and for the limited outcomes in terms of lifespan. For these types of tumors, the... (Review)
Review
Breast cancers (BCs) may present dramatic diagnoses, both for ineffective therapies and for the limited outcomes in terms of lifespan. For these types of tumors, the search for new drugs is a primary necessity. It is widely recognized that gold compounds are highly active and extremely potent as anticancer agents against many cancer cell lines. The presence of the metal plays an essential role in the activation of the cytotoxicity of these coordination compounds, whose activity, if restricted to the ligands alone, would be non-existent. On the other hand, gold exhibits a complex biochemistry, substantially variable depending on the chemical environments around the central metal. In this review, the scientific findings of the last 6-7 years on two classes of gold(I) compounds, containing phosphane or carbene ligands, are reviewed. In addition to this class of Au(I) compounds, the recent developments in the application of Auranofin in regards to BCs are reported. Auranofin is a triethylphosphine-thiosugar compound that, being a drug approved by the FDA-therefore extensively studied-is an interesting lead gold compound and a good comparison to understand the activities of structurally related Au(I) compounds.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Auranofin; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Gold; Humans; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 35053228
DOI: 10.3390/biom12010080 -
Communications Biology Jun 2021Demand for a cure of liver fibrosis is rising with its increasing morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is an urgent issue to investigate its therapeutic candidates....
Demand for a cure of liver fibrosis is rising with its increasing morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is an urgent issue to investigate its therapeutic candidates. Liver fibrosis progresses following 'multi-hit' processes involving hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and hepatocytes. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is emerging as a therapeutic target in liver fibrosis. Previous studies showed that the anti-rheumatic agent auranofin inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome; thus, this study evaluates the antifibrotic effect of auranofin in vivo and explores the underlying molecular mechanism. The antifibrotic effect of auranofin is assessed in thioacetamide- and carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis models. Moreover, hepatic stellate cell (HSC), bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM), kupffer cell, and hepatocyte are used to examine the underlying mechanism of auranofin. Auranofin potently inhibits activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in BMDM and kupffer cell. It also reduces the migration of HSC. The underlying molecular mechanism was inhibition of cystine-glutamate antiporter, system Xc. Auranofin inhibits system Xc activity and instantly induced oxidative burst, which mediated inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages and HSCs. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, we propose the use of auranofin as an anti-liver fibrotic agent.
Topics: Amino Acid Transport System y+; Animals; Apoptosis; Auranofin; Carbon Tetrachloride; Cells, Cultured; Humans; Inflammasomes; Interleukin-1beta; Kupffer Cells; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Macrophages; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Pyroptosis; Thioacetamide; Mice
PubMed: 34193972
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02345-1 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology Aug 2019The aim of this study was to assess anti-biofilm and antimicrobial effects of auranofin, an anti-rheumatic agent, on uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) biofilm...
AIMS
The aim of this study was to assess anti-biofilm and antimicrobial effects of auranofin, an anti-rheumatic agent, on uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) biofilm formation.
METHODS AND RESULTS
The minimum inhibitory concentration and biofilm inhibition concentration of auranofin against UPEC ranged from 24 to 32 μg ml . Biofilm eradication concentration and XTT reduction concentration of auranofin were found to be at 112 μg ml . Confocal laser scanning microscopy results confirmed that biofilm was inhibited by auranofin. These results indicate that auranofin possesses potent anti-biofilm and antimicrobial activities against UPEC. Effects of auranofin on type 1 fimbriae gene (fimH) and response regulator gene (rpoS) to stress were explored using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, combination of auranofin and tetracycline showed synergistic effect.
CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that auranofin has inhibitory effect on biofilm formation and synergistic effect on UPEC infection when it is combined with tetracycline.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY
Our study strongly suggest that auranofin is a promising alternative anti-biofilm and antimicrobial agent to prevent UPEC biofilm formation in UTIs. Auranofin already approved for human use have the advantage of being able to be put into clinical use relatively quickly.
Topics: Adhesins, Escherichia coli; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Auranofin; Biofilms; Drug Repositioning; Fimbriae Proteins; Humans; Tetracycline; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
PubMed: 31087803
DOI: 10.1111/jam.14312 -
Microbiology Spectrum Feb 2024Auranofin, an FDA-approved drug for rheumatoid arthritis, has emerged as a promising antiparasitic medication in recent years. The gold(I) ion in auranofin is postulated...
Auranofin, an FDA-approved drug for rheumatoid arthritis, has emerged as a promising antiparasitic medication in recent years. The gold(I) ion in auranofin is postulated to be responsible for its antiparasitic activity. Notably aurothiomalate and aurothioglucose also contain gold(I), and, like auranofin, they were previously used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Whether they have antiparasitic activity remains to be elucidated. Herein, we demonstrated that auranofin and similar derivatives, but not aurothiomalate and aurothioglucose, inhibited the growth of . We found that auranofin affected the biological cycle (lytic cycle) by inhibiting invasion and triggering its egress from the host cell. However, auranofin could not prevent parasite replication once resided within the host. Auranofin treatment induced apoptosis in parasites as demonstrated by its reduced size and elevated phosphatidylserine externalization (PS). Notably, the gold from auranofin enters the cytoplasm of as demonstrated by scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).IMPORTANCEToxoplasmosis, caused by , is a devastating disease affecting the brain and the eyes, frequently affecting immunocompromised individuals. Approximately 60 million people in the United States are already infected with , representing a population at-risk of developing toxoplasmosis. Recent advances in treating cancer, autoimmune diseases, and organ transplants have contributed to this at-risk population's exponential growth. Paradoxically, treatments for toxoplasmosis have remained the same for more than 60 years, relying on medications well-known for their bone marrow toxicity and allergic reactions. Discovering new therapies is a priority, and repurposing FDA-approved drugs is an alternative approach to speed up drug discovery. Herein, we report the effect of auranofin, an FDA-approved drug, on the biological cycle of and how both the phosphine ligand and the gold molecule determine the anti-parasitic activity of auranofin and other gold compounds. Our studies would contribute to the pipeline of candidate anti- agents.
Topics: Humans; Auranofin; Gold; Toxoplasma; Ligands; Aurothioglucose; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Gold Sodium Thiomalate; Toxoplasmosis; Antiparasitic Agents; Phosphines
PubMed: 38206030
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02968-23 -
Acta Parasitologica Sep 2021Evaluate the effect of auranofin on the early and late stages of chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii avirulent ME49 strain.
PURPOSES
Evaluate the effect of auranofin on the early and late stages of chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii avirulent ME49 strain.
METHODS
Swiss albino mice were orally inoculated with 10 cysts of Toxoplasma gondii, and orally treated with auranofin or septazole in daily doses of 20 mg/kg or 100 mg /kg, respectively, for 30 days. Treatment began either on the same day of infection and mice were sacrificed at the 60th day postinfection or the treatment started after 60 days of infection and mice were sacrificed at the 90th day postinfection.
RESULTS
Auranofin significantly reduced the brain cyst burden and inflammatory reaction at both stages of infection compared to the infected non-treated control. More remarkably, auranofin significant reduced the brain cyst burden in the late stage, while septazole failed. Hydrogen peroxide level was significantly increased in the brain homogenate of mice treated with auranofin only at the early stage of infection. Ultrastructral studies revealed that the anti-Toxoplasma effect of auranofin is achieved by changing the membrane permeability and inducing apoptosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Thus, auranofin could be an alternative for the standard treatment regimen of toxoplasmosis and these results are considered another achievement for the drug against parasitic infection. Being a FDA-approved drug, it can be rapidly evaluated in clinical trials.
Topics: Animals; Auranofin; Brain; Drug Repositioning; Mice; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral
PubMed: 33555553
DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00337-z -
Redox Biology Jun 2022The effects of Auranofin (AF) on protein expression and protein oxidation in A2780 cancer cells were investigated through a strategy based on simultaneous expression...
The effects of Auranofin (AF) on protein expression and protein oxidation in A2780 cancer cells were investigated through a strategy based on simultaneous expression proteomics and redox proteomics determinations. Bioinformatics analysis of the proteomics data supports the view that the most critical cellular changes elicited by AF treatment consist of thioredoxin reductase inhibition, alteration of the cell redox state, impairment of the mitochondrial functions, metabolic changes associated with conversion to a glycolytic phenotype, induction of ER stress. The occurrence of the above cellular changes was extensively validated by performing direct biochemical assays. Our data are consistent with the concept that AF produces its effects through a multitarget mechanism that mainly affects the redox metabolism and the mitochondrial functions and results into severe ER stress. Results are discussed in the context of the current mechanistic knowledge existing on AF.
Topics: Auranofin; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Humans; Ovarian Neoplasms; Oxidation-Reduction; Proteome; Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase
PubMed: 35358852
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102294 -
Biochemical and Biophysical Research... Jan 2017Protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) is a serine/threonine phosphatase that belongs to the PPP family phosphatases. PP5 and the other phosphatases of the PPP family share...
Protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) is a serine/threonine phosphatase that belongs to the PPP family phosphatases. PP5 and the other phosphatases of the PPP family share significantly similar catalytic domain structure. Due to this structural similarity, natural competitive inhibitors such as okadaic acid and cantharidin exhibit broad specificity over the PPP family phosphatases. In this study, we report the identification of three PP5 inhibitors, Ro 90-7501, aurothioglucose, and N-oleoyldopamine, along with a novel inhibitory mechanism of Ro 90-7501. Unlike other inhibitors binding to the phosphatase domain, Ro 90-7501 inhibited PP5 in a TPR-dependent manner. This TPR-dependent PP5 inhibition shown by Ro 90-7501 is a unique and novel inhibitory mechanism, which might be a useful tool for studies of PP5 on both regulatory mechanism and drug discovery.
Topics: Amines; Benzimidazoles; Binding Sites; Enzyme Activation; Nuclear Proteins; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; Protein Binding; Protein Domains
PubMed: 27840051
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.11.043 -
Journal de Mycologie Medicale May 2023Infections caused by azole-resistant Aspergillus are a rising public health threat with high mortality rates, high treatment costs and limited available antifungals,...
BACKGROUND
Infections caused by azole-resistant Aspergillus are a rising public health threat with high mortality rates, high treatment costs and limited available antifungals, indicating an urgent need for new antifungals or strategies. Our aim was to investigate antifungal and antibiofilm activities of auranofin, an FDA-approved anti-antirheumatic drug.
METHODS
Fungal susceptibility testing for auranofin was carried out by the broth-based microdilution methods. Cell viability treated by auranofin was tested by resazurin dye testing. The synergistic effect of auranofin and antifungal drugs was evaluated using checkboard assay. The inhibitory of biofilms were measured by crystal violet staining. Gene expression level analysis and enzyme activity was investigated with qRT-PCR analysis and DTNB assay. The key amino acid residues in the binding of auranofin with A. fumigatus thioredoxin reductase (AfTrxR) were indicated by structural analyses, site-directed mutagenesis, and microscale thermophoresis (MST) assays.
RESULTS
Auranofin has fungicidal activity and in vitro antifungal spectrum including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus niger, even itraconazole (ITC)-resistant A. fumigatus. Additionally, it has antibiofilm activities against ITC-resistant A. fumigatus by reducing the expression level of SomA and MedA. Moreover, we discovered a synergistic effect of auranofin and ITC or amphotericin B against ITC-resistant A. fumigatus. Auranofin downregulated the gene transcription of AfTrxR, and strongly inhibited the enzyme activity of AfTrxR through interacting with residues C145 and C148.
CONCLUSIONS
Auranofin has fungicidal and antibiofilm activities in Aspergillus spp. and is also a potentiator of ITC or amphotericin B in vitro.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Itraconazole; Aspergillus fumigatus; Amphotericin B; Auranofin; Voriconazole; Triazoles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37037064
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2023.101381