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Sun L, Yu Q, Peng F, Sun C, Wang D, Pu L, Xiong F, Tian Y, Peng C, Zhou Q. The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1276383. [PMID: 38249466 PMCID: PMC10797013 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a major pathogen implicated in the evolution of acne inflammation. Inhibition of C. acnes-induced inflammation is a prospective acne therapy strategy. Berberine (BBR), a safe and effective natural ingredient, has been proven to exhibit powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the antimicrobial effect of BBR against C. acnes and its role in C. acnes-mediated inflammatory acne have not been explored. The objective of this investigation was to assess the antibacterial activity of BBR against C. acnes and its inhibitory effect on the inflammatory response. The results of in vitro experiments showed that BBR exhibited significant inhibition zones against four C. acnes strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in the range of 6.25-12.5 μg/mL and 12.5-25 μg/mL, respectively. On the bacterial growth curve, the BBR-treated C. acnes exhibited obvious growth inhibition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that BBR treatment resulted in significant morphological changes in C. acnes. High-content imaging analysis further confirmed that BBR could effectively inhibit the proliferation of C. acnes. The disruption of cell wall and cell membrane structure by BBR treatment was preliminary confirmed according to the leakage of cellular contents such as potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP). Furthermore, we found that BBR could reduce the transcript levels of genes associated with peptidoglycan synthesis (murC, murD, mraY, and murG). Meanwhile, we investigated the modulatory ability of BBR on C. acnes-induced skin inflammation in mice. The results showed that BBR effectively reduced the number of C. acnes colonized in mice's ears, thereby alleviating ear swelling and erythema and significantly decreasing ear thickness and weight. In addition, BBR significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in auricular tissues. These results suggest that BBR has the potential to treat inflammatory acne induced by C. acnes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fu Peng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Daibo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuncai Tian
- Shanghai Zhizhenzhichen Technologies Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qinmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Shinde Y, Ahmad I, Surana S, Patel H. The Mur Enzymes Chink in the Armour of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 222:113568. [PMID: 34118719 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
TUBERCULOSIS: (TB) transmitted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the top 10 causes of death globally. Currently, the widespread occurrence of resistance toward Mtb strains is becoming a significant concern to public health. This scenario exaggerated the need for the discovery of novel targets and their inhibitors. Targeting the "Mtb cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis" is an attractive strategy to overcome drug resistance. Mur enzymes (MurA-MurF) play essential roles in the peptidoglycan synthesis by catalyzing the ligation of key amino acid residues to the stem peptide. These enzymes are unique and confined to the eubacteria and are absent in humans, representing potential targets for anti-tubercular drug discovery. Mtb Mur ligases with the same catalytic mechanism share conserved amino acid regions and structural features that can conceivably exploit for the designing of the inhibitors, which can simultaneously target more than one isoforms (MurC-MurF) of the enzyme. In light of these findings in the current review, we have discussed the recent advances in medicinal chemistry of Mtb Mur enzymes (MurA-MurF) and their inhibitors, offering attractive multi-targeted strategies to combat the problem of drug-resistant in M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashodeep Shinde
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India
| | - Iqrar Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sanjay Surana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India
| | - Harun Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India.
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Seo PW, Park SY, Hofmann A, Kim JS. Crystal structures of UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid L-alanine ligase (MurC) from Mycobacterium bovis with and without UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2021; 77:618-627. [PMID: 33950018 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321002199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan comprises repeating units of N-acetylmuramic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and short cross-linking peptides. After the conversion of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UNAG) to UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid (UNAM) by the MurA and MurB enzymes, an amino acid is added to UNAM by UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid L-alanine ligase (MurC). As peptidoglycan is an essential component of the bacterial cell wall, the enzymes involved in its biosynthesis represent promising targets for the development of novel antibacterial drugs. Here, the crystal structure of Mycobacterium bovis MurC (MbMurC) is reported, which exhibits a three-domain architecture for the binding of UNAM, ATP and an amino acid as substrates, with a nickel ion at the domain interface. The ATP-binding loop adopts a conformation that is not seen in other MurCs. In the UNAG-bound structure of MbMurC, the substrate mimic interacts with the UDP-binding domain of MbMurC, which does not invoke rearrangement of the three domains. Interestingly, the glycine-rich loop of the UDP-binding domain of MbMurC interacts through hydrogen bonds with the glucose moiety of the ligand, but not with the pyrophosphate moiety. These findings suggest that UNAG analogs might serve as potential candidates for neutralizing the catalytic activity of bacterial MurC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pil Won Seo
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk Youl Park
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Jeong Sun Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
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