Effect of iron-chelator deferiprone on the in vitro growth of staphylococci.
The standard iron-chelator deferoxamine is known to prevent the growth of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) which are major pathogens in iron-overloaded patients. However, we found that deferoxamine rather promotes the growth of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Accordingly, we tested whether deferiprone, a new clinically-available iron-chelator, can prevent the growth of S. aureus strains as well as CoNS. Deferiprone did not at least promote the growth of all S. aureus strains (n=26) and CoNS (n=27) at relatively low doses; moreover, it could significantly inhibit the growth of all staphylococci on non-transferrin-bound-iron and the growth of all CoNS on transferrin-bound iron at relatively high doses. At the same doses, it did not at least promote the growth of all S. aureus strains on transferrin-bound-iron. These findings indicate that deferiprone can be useful to prevent staphylococcal infections, as well as to improve iron overload, in iron-overloaded patients.
Kim
Choon-Mee
CM
Research Center for Resistant Cells, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Shin
Sung-Heui
SH
D000077543:Deferiprone; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011728:Pyridones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D014168:Transferrin; D000077543:Deferiprone; D007501:Iron; D003676:Deferoxamine