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Zeng Z, Li P, Lu J, Li X, Li M, Wu Y, Zheng M, Cao Y, Liao Q, Ge Z, Zhang L. A non-antibiotic antimicrobial drug, a biological bacteriostatic agent, is useful for treating aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1341878. [PMID: 38860217 PMCID: PMC11163058 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1341878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Vaginitis is a common infection in women, with approximately 75% of women experiencing at least one episode during their lifetime. Although antimicrobial agents are widely used to treat vaginitis, recurrent vaginitis occurs in some patients. Resistance to these agents is the major cause of recurrent vaginitis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel drugs. Methods We investigated the efficacy of a new biological bacteriostatic agent (BBA), composed of lysozyme, phytoalexin, chitosan oligosaccharide, sinensetin, 18β/20α-glycyrrhizin, and betaine, against vaginitis using in vitro and in vivo studies. First, we evaluated the antibacterial effects of BBA against 13 microbial strains commonly present in aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and healthy vaginas. Second, we assessed the safety of various doses of BBA administered orally for 4 weeks in female mice. Third, we examined the in vivo anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of BBA in Candida albicans-, Candida glabrata-, and Gardnerella-induced vaginitis models. Finally, we evaluated the anti-vaginitis effect of a BBA gel prepared with 0.5% (w/v) ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp copolymer. Results BBA effectively suppressed the growth of the main causative pathogens of vaginitis in vitro. BBA, either undiluted or diluted two-fold, inhibited all microorganisms cultured for 8 h. No obvious organ damage was detected when BBA was administered to mice. Both BBA alone and 70% BBA in a gel formulation effectively inhibited the proliferation of C. albicans, C. glabrata, and Gardnerella in vaginal lavage samples and alleviated tissue inflammation in mice with vaginitis. The 70% BBA gel performed better than BBA alone at treating vaginitis in mice infected with Gardnerella vaginalis. Conclusion BBA alone and a 70% BBA gel inhibited the growth of pathogens and effectively alleviated inflammation caused by C. albicans, C. glabrata, and G. vaginalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zeng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Li
- College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiayi Lu
- College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoqi Li
- College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Minzi Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinping Liao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaojia Ge
- College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Institute for Precision Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Tan MZ, Feng YX, Hong DY, Guo XG. Association between serum carotenoids and bacterial vaginosis infection among American women. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:20. [PMID: 38166673 PMCID: PMC10762845 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08908-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a widely occurring vaginal inflammation in women of childbearing age caused by dysbiosis of the vaginal flora. Few studies have investigated the effect of serum carotenoids on the development and pathogenesis of BV. This study thus aimed to explore the correlation between serum carotenoids and BV in American women. METHOD The analysis included 1252 participants with BV from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2001 and 2004. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to explore the correlation between BV and serum carotenoids, while smooth curve fitting was utilized to examine potential nonlinear correlations. Furthermore, stratified subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted. ORs reflected the correlation between BV and serum carotenoids. RESULT Results of multiple logistic regression indicated that total serum carotenoids and BV had an inverse correlation. In the fully adjusted model II, the quartile with the highest levels of α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin had a substantially lower incidence of BV. Smooth curve fitting revealed a significant negative linear correlation between serum carotenoids and the incidence of BV. The negative correlation between serum carotenoids and BV was relatively stable in stratified analyses. Moreover, in sensitivity analyses, the association between serum carotenoids and BV persisted, and β-carotene became significantly negatively correlated with BV. CONCLUSION This study found an inverse correlation between serum carotenoids and the prevalence of BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Zhi Tan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The First Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Yu-Xue Feng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The First Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - De-Yao Hong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The First Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Xu-Guang Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Third Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China.
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, King Med School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
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Abbe C, Mitchell CM. Bacterial vaginosis: a review of approaches to treatment and prevention. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1100029. [PMID: 37325243 PMCID: PMC10264601 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1100029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of vaginitis worldwide and is associated with serious reproductive health outcomes, including increased risk of preterm birth, sexually transmitted infections, and pelvic inflammatory disease. The current and only FDA-approved treatment regimens for BV are antibiotics, such as metronidazole and clindamycin. Antibiotics provide a short-term cure for bacterial vaginosis; however, fail to provide a consistent long-term cure for many women. Fifty to eighty percent of women experience a BV recurrence within a year of completing antibiotic treatment. This may be because after antibiotic treatment, beneficial strains of Lactobacillus, such as L. crispatus, do not recolonize the vagina. In the absence of an effective long-term cure, patients, providers, and researchers are exploring different approaches to treatment and prevention, resulting in a rapid evolution of perspectives on BV pathogenesis and approaches to management. Current areas of investigation for BV management include probiotics, vaginal microbiome transplantation, pH modulation, and biofilm disruption. Behavioral modifications that may help include smoking cessation, condom use and hormonal contraception. Additional strategies considered by many people include dietary modification, non-medical vaginally applied products, choice of lubricant, and treatments from medical practices outside of allopathic medicine. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and up to date outline of the landscape of ongoing and potential treatment and prevention strategies for BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Abbe
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Caroline M. Mitchell
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Fu K, Chen H, Mei L, Wang J, Gong B, Li Y, Cao R. Berberine enhances autophagic flux by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in bovine endometrial epithelial cells to resist LPS-induced apoptosis. Anim Sci J 2023; 94:e13847. [PMID: 37427761 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Berberine exerts many beneficial effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEECs). Recently, we also found that berberine shows significant antiapoptotic and autophagy-promoting activities, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. This research explored the association between the antiapoptotic and autophagy-promoting activities of berberine in LPS-treated BEECs. BEECs were first preconditioned with an inhibitor of autophagic flux (chloroquine [CQ]) for 1 h, treated with berberine for 2 h, and then incubated with LPS for 3 h. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, and autophagy activities were assessed by immunoblot analysis of LC3II and p62. The results indicated that the antiapoptotic activity of berberine was notably inhibited in LPS-treated BEECs after preconditioning with CQ for 1 h. Furthermore, to determine whether berberine promoted autophagy by activating the nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, we assessed autophagy in LPS-treated BEECs after preconditioning with a signaling pathway inhibitor of Nrf2 (ML385). The results indicated that the enhanced autophagy activity induced by berberine was partially reversed in LPS-treated BEECs after the Nrf2 signaling pathway was disturbed by ML385. In conclusion, berberine enhances autophagic flux to allow resistance to LPS-induced apoptosis by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in BEECs. The present study may provide new insight into the antiapoptotic mechanism of berberine in LPS-induced BEECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiqiang Fu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Shandong, Qingdao, China
| | - Han Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Shandong, Qingdao, China
| | - Lian Mei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Shandong, Qingdao, China
| | - Jifang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Shandong, Qingdao, China
| | - Benzhi Gong
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong, Jining, China
| | - Yan Li
- Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Shandong, Junan, China
| | - Rongfeng Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Shandong, Qingdao, China
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Noormohammadi M, Eslamian G, Kazemi SN, Rashidkhani B. Is there any association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity with Bacterial Vaginosis? Results from a Case-Control study. BMC Womens Health 2022; 22:244. [PMID: 35725424 PMCID: PMC9210658 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-01833-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacterial vaginosis, BV, is a common inflammatory vaginal dysbiosis. The Mediterranean diet, MD, containing foods rich in antioxidant compounds, is shown to be beneficial for inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to investigate the association between MD adherence and dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) with BV.
Methods This case–control study was conducted on 143 BV-affected and 151 healthy individuals aged between 15 and 45 years. The Amsel criteria were used to detect newly diagnosed patients with BV by a gynecologist. The 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to record participants' dietary intakes in the last year. The reported data in the FFQ was used to measure adherence to the MD by calculating the Medi-Lite score and to measure the DTAC by calculating ferric-reducing antioxidant power, FRAP, based on the related databases. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between Medi-Lite and DTAC and BV odds. Results The highest tertile of Medi-Lite score was associated with a reduced odds of BV in the crude model (Odds Ratio, OR: 0.49, 95% Confidence Interval, 95% CI 0.25, 0.96, P for trend: 0.023). This significant inverse association was not observed in the last model adjusted for age, body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumferences (cm), cigarette smoking, frequency of pregnancy, and physical activity (MET/h/d). In crude and adjusted odels, BV odds decreased in the highest tertile of vegetable (adjusted OR, aOR: 0.32, 95% CI 0.16, 0.63, P for trend: 0.001), fish (aOR: 0.46, 95% CI 0.25, 0.84, P for trend: 0.009), legumes (aOR: 0.26, 95% CI 0.14, 0.50, P for trend < 0.001), and meat (aOR: 0.29, 95% CI 0.15, 0.56, P for trend < 0.001) groups. There was no significant association between DTAC and BV odds. Conclusions The significant inverse association between the MD adherence and BV odds did not remain after modifying for confounders; besides, DTAC was not associated with BV odds. However, some of the MD components might be associated with a reduced odds of BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morvarid Noormohammadi
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Faculty of Public Health Branch, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghazaleh Eslamian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No 7, Hafezi St., Farahzadi Blvd., P.O. Box 19395-4741, Tehran, 1981619573, Iran.
| | - Seyyedeh Neda Kazemi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Preventative Gynecology Research Center, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Rashidkhani
- Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Boahen A, Than LTL, Loke YL, Chew SY. The Antibiofilm Role of Biotics Family in Vaginal Fungal Infections. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:787119. [PMID: 35694318 PMCID: PMC9179178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.787119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
“Unity in strength” is a notion that can be exploited to characterize biofilms as they bestow microbes with protection to live freely, escalate their virulence, confer high resistance to therapeutic agents, and provide active grounds for the production of biofilms after dispersal. Naturally, fungal biofilms are inherently resistant to many conventional antifungals, possibly owing to virulence factors as their ammunitions that persistently express amid planktonic transition to matured biofilm state. These ammunitions include the ability to form polymicrobial biofilms, emergence of persister cells post-antifungal treatment and acquisition of resistance genes. One of the major disorders affecting vaginal health is vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and its reoccurrence is termed recurrent VVC (RVVC). It is caused by the Candida species which include Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. The aforementioned Candida species, notably C. albicans is a biofilm producing pathogen and habitually forms part of the vaginal microbiota of healthy women. Latest research has implicated the role of fungal biofilms in VVC, particularly in the setting of treatment failure and RVVC. Consequently, a plethora of studies have advocated the utilization of probiotics in addressing these infections. Specifically, the excreted or released compounds of probiotics which are also known as postbiotics are being actively researched with vast potential to be used as therapeutic options for the treatment and prevention of VVC and RVVC. These potential sources of postbiotics are harnessed due to their proven antifungal and antibiofilm. Hence, this review discusses the role of Candida biofilm formation in VVC and RVVC. In addition, we discuss the application of pro-, pre-, post-, and synbiotics either individually or in combined regimen to counteract the abovementioned problems. A clear understanding of the role of biofilms in VVC and RVVC will provide proper footing for further research in devising novel remedies for prevention and treatment of vaginal fungal infections.
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7
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Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Activity and Anti-Migratory Effect of Berberine–Phytantriol Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticle Formulation on Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer In Vitro. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061119. [PMID: 35745691 PMCID: PMC9228615 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that is commercially available for use as a supplement for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, the therapeutic benefits of berberine are limited by its extremely low bioavailability and toxicity at higher doses. Increasing evidence suggests that the incorporation of drug compounds in liquid crystal nanoparticles provides a new platform for the safe, effective, stable, and controlled delivery of the drug molecules. This study aimed to formulate an optimized formulation of berberine–phytantriol-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (BP-LCNs) and to investigate the in vitro anti-cancer activity in a human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line. The BP-LCN formulation possessing optimal characteristics that was used in this study had a favorable particle size and entrapment efficiency rate (75.31%) and a superior drug release profile. The potential mechanism of action of the formulation was determined by measuring the mRNA levels of the tumor-associated genes PTEN, P53, and KRT18 and the protein expression levels with a human oncology protein array. BP-LCNs decreased the proliferation, migration, and colony-forming activity of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner by upregulating the mRNA expression of PTEN and P53 and downregulating the mRNA expression of KRT18. Similarly, BP-LCNs also decreased the expression of proteins related to cancer cell proliferation and migration. This study highlights the utility of phytantriol-based LCNs in incorporating drug molecules with low GI absorption and bioavailability to increase their pharmacological effectiveness and potency in NSCLC.
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Happel AU, Sivro A, Liebenberg L, Passmore JA, Mitchell CM. Considerations for Choosing Soluble Immune Markers to Determine Safety of Novel Vaginal Products. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2022; 4:899277. [PMID: 36303630 PMCID: PMC9580790 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2022.899277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Several soluble cytokines have been associated with microbicide-induced cervicovaginal inflammation, non-optimal vaginal microbiota, and risk of HIV acquisition. Many of these biomarkers are used in preclinical assays to estimate the safety of vaginally applied products. However, there are currently no validated biomarkers to evaluate the safety of novel vaginal products in clinical trials. This hinders the rapid and rational selection of novel products being tested in first-in-human trials. We reviewed available literature to assess how best to select and measure soluble immune markers to determine product safety in first in human clinical trials of novel vaginal products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Ursula Happel
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Aida Sivro
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Lenine Liebenberg
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jo Ann Passmore
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Caroline M. Mitchell
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Caroline M. Mitchell
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Ozturk M, Chia JE, Hazra R, Saqib M, Maine R, Guler R, Suzuki H, Mishra BB, Brombacher F, Parihar SP. Evaluation of Berberine as an Adjunct to TB Treatment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:656419. [PMID: 34745081 PMCID: PMC8563784 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.656419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is the global health problem with the second highest number of deaths from a communicable disease after COVID-19. Although TB is curable, poor health infrastructure, long and grueling TB treatments have led to the spread of TB pandemic with alarmingly increasing multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB prevalence. Alternative host modulating therapies can be employed to improve TB drug efficacies or dampen the exaggerated inflammatory responses to improve lung function. Here, we investigated the adjunct therapy of natural immune-modulatory compound berberine in C57BL/6 mouse model of pulmonary TB. Berberine treatment did not affect Mtb growth in axenic cultures; however, it showed increased bacterial killing in primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and human monocyte-derived macrophages. Ad libitum berberine administration was beneficial to the host in combination with rifampicin and isoniazid. Berberine adjunctive treatment resulted in decreased lung pathology with no additive or synergistic effects on bacterial burdens in mice. Lung immune cell flow cytometry analysis showed that adjunctive berberine treatment decreased neutrophil, CD11b+ dendritic cell and recruited interstitial macrophage numbers. Late onset of adjunctive berberine treatment resulted in a similar phenotype with consistently reduced numbers of neutrophils both in lungs and the spleen. Together, our results suggest that berberine can be supplemented as an immunomodulatory agent depending on the disease stage and inflammatory status of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumin Ozturk
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Julius E. Chia
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rudranil Hazra
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mohd Saqib
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Rebeng A. Maine
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Reto Guler
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Harukazu Suzuki
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Bibhuti B. Mishra
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Frank Brombacher
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Suraj P. Parihar
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Huang CH, Wang FT, Chan WH. Dose-dependent beneficial and harmful effects of berberine on mouse oocyte maturation and fertilization and fetal development. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2020; 9:431-443. [PMID: 32905254 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from several traditional Chinese herbal medicines, suppresses growth and induces apoptosis in some tumor cell lines. It has also been shown that berberine possesses anti-atherosclerosis and antioxidant activities in hyperlipidemic model rats. Our previous study in mice found that berberine causes harmful effects on preimplantation and postimplantation embryonic development, both in vitro and in vivo, by triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptotic cascades in mouse blastocysts. In the current investigation, we further showed that berberine treatment has distinct dose-dependent effects on oocyte maturation and subsequent development. Preincubation of oocytes with 2.5 μM berberine significantly enhanced maturation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates, with subsequent beneficial effects on embryonic development. In contrast, preincubation with 10 μM berberine negatively impacted mouse oocyte maturation, decreased IVF rates and impaired subsequent embryonic development. Similar dose-dependent effects were also demonstrated in vivo. Specifically, intravenous injection of berberine significantly enhanced mouse oocyte maturation, IVF rate and early-stage embryo development after fertilization at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight but significantly impaired oocyte maturation and IVF rates and caused harmful effects on early embryonic development at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Mechanistically, we found that berberine enhanced intracellular ROS production and apoptosis of oocytes at a concentration of 10 μM but actually significantly decreased total intracellular ROS content and had no apoptotic effect at a concentration of 2.5 μM. Moreover, pretreatment of oocytes with Ac-DEVD-cho, a caspase-3-specific inhibitor, effectively blocked berberine-induced negative impacts on oocyte maturation, fertilization and subsequent development. Collectively, these findings establish the dose-dependent beneficial versus deleterious effects of berberine and suggest that the mechanism underlying the deleterious effects of berberine involves a caspase-3-dependent apoptotic process acting downstream of an increase in intracellular ROS levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Hsun Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health & Welfare, hongshan Road, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City 33004, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Ting Wang
- Rehabilitation and Technical Aid Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Shipai Road, Beitou District, Taipei City 11217, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsiung Chan
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Center for Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li District, Taoyuan City 32023, Taiwan
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Apoptosis of vaginal epithelial cells in clinical samples from women with diagnosed bacterial vaginosis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1978. [PMID: 32029862 PMCID: PMC7005030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58862-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common vaginal infections among women of childbearing age. Gardnerella vaginalis (G. vaginalis) is a keystone microorganism present in more than 95% of all BV cases. The first step of the infection process in BV is mediated by interaction of microorganisms with epithelial cells (ECs). However, the role of these cells in BV pathogenesis is largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the vaginal EC response during BV. Twenty healthy women and 34 women with BV were enrolled in this study. The number of ECs in the vaginal swab was counted and analyzed for intracellular signals and apoptosis by flow cytometry. Cell damage was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Compared to that in healthy donors, the percentage of exfoliated vaginal ECs was increased in women with BV, and an absence of neutrophils was observed in both groups. Activation signals, such as p-IκBα and c-Fos were unmodulated in the vaginal ECs of women with BV. Moreover, EC damage and apoptosis were significantly increased in patients with BV. Apoptosis was related to caspase-3 activation and the presence of G. vaginalis. This study provides the first evidence of a direct involvement of G. vaginalis in the apoptotic process of vaginal ECs during BV. This effect was mediated by caspase-3 activation, and G. vaginalis appeared to be one of causes for inducing EC apoptosis in BV. Hence, our findings suggest a possible explanation for the increased exfoliation of ECs in the vagina during BV.
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