title: Diosmetin inhibits the expression of alpha-hemolysin in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen that causes a wide range of diseases. Alpha-hemolysin (Hla), a pore-forming cytotoxin that is produced by most S. aureus strains, can cause tissue injury and plays a critical role in the virulence of this pathogen. In the present study, we discovered that diosmetin, a natural flavonoid that occurs primarily in citrus fruits and exhibits little anti-S. aureus activity, could diminish the production of Hla in culture supernatants in a concentration-dependent manner. The analysis of cytotoxicity in the co-culture system of S. aureus and A549 epithelial cells showed that such inhibition confers significant protection against S. aureus-mediated injury. Our results suggested that diosmetin has the potential to be a new anti-virulence drug for S. aureus infection, particularly for the targeting of Hla.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Shui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bowen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xuming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005419:Flavonoids; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C021091:staphylococcal alpha-toxin; C039602:diosmetin