Comparison of the effects of deferasirox, deferiprone, and deferoxamine on the growth and virulence of Vibrio vulnificus.
BACKGROUND
Since deferoxamine (DFO), a standard iron-chelating agent that is widely used in patients with iron overload such as hemochromatosis or thalassemia, is a kind of hydroxamine siderophore of Streptomyces species, it can accelerate the in vitro growth of ferophilic organisms such as Vibrio vulnificus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Mucorales.


METHODS
We compared the effects of the two oral iron chelators, deferiprone (DFP) and deferasirox (DFS), on the growth and virulence of V. vulnificus with that of the parenteral iron-chelating drug DFO used to treat patients with iron overload.


RESULTS
When V. vulnificus ATCC 27562 was grown in iron-poor liquid medium with α,α′-dipryridyl, addition of DFO promoted its growth, whereas DFP and DFS did not. Only DFP and DFS showed growth inhibitory effect by chelating iron and causing iron deprivation. Similarly, on iron-poor agar plates, various clinical V. vulnificus strains were only able to grow around filter paper disks impregnated with DFO. Our in vitro study data showed that DFS or DFP has more potential clinical application for preventing V. vulnificus infection in patients receiving iron chelation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
When patients with iron overload need iron chelation therapy, especially in a population at high risk for V. vulnificus in its endemic season, DFS or DFP may be safely used rather than DFO.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Research Center for Resistant Cells, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
Ganesh Prasad
GP
Neupane
Dong-Min
DM
Kim
D001565:Benzoates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077588:Deferasirox; D000077543:Deferiprone; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy; D011728:Pyridones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017262:Siderophores / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000139:chemically induced; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity
D001565:Benzoates; D011728:Pyridones; D017262:Siderophores; D014230:Triazoles; D000077543:Deferiprone; D003676:Deferoxamine; D000077588:Deferasirox