title: Subinhibitory concentrations of punicalagin reduces expression of virulence-related exoproteins by Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus produces a number of virulence factors. The major virulence factors exhibited by S aureus include various antigens, enzymes, cytotoxins and exotoxins (e.g. hemolysins, enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin). In this report, we show the influence of punicalagin on the secretion of exoprotein from S aureus by western blotting, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release assay and quantitative RT-PCR. When added to S aureus cultures at an OD600 of 0.9, graded subinhibitory concentrations of punicalagin reduced the production of α-toxin, SEA and SEB in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a dose-dependent manner. Consistently, punicalagin reduced TNF-inducing activity by S aureus culture supernatants. Here, the transcriptional level of agr (accessory gene regulator) in S aureus was inhibited by punicalagin, suggesting that the reduced transcription may affect the secretion of exotoxins. These findings suggest that the expression of α-toxin and enterotoxins in S aureus is sensitive to the action of punicalagin, which may be an advantageous candidate in the treatment of toxigenic staphylococcal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Institute of Biotechnology, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medicine Resources, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Ryong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Institute of Biotechnology, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Institute of Biotechnology, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Institute of Biotechnology, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Ok-Hwa
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medicine Resources, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam 540-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Institute of Biotechnology, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea sssimi@wku.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Yeul
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002460:Cell Line; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051379:Mice; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C095698:Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D037521:Virulence Factors; C021091:staphylococcal alpha-toxin; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; C115642:punicalagin
keywords: enterotoxin; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, punicalagin; tumor necrosis factor; α-toxin