Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of endophytic fungi Talaromyces wortmannii extracts against acne-inducing bacteria

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 2;9(6):e97929. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097929. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease, causing significant psychosocial problems such as anxiety and depression similar to a chronic illness for those afflicted. Currently, obtainable agents for acne treatment have limited use. Thus, development of novel agents to treat this disease is a high medical need. The anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium acnes has been implicated in the inflammatory phase of acne vulgaris by activating pro-inflammatory mediators such as the interleukin-8 (IL-8) via the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Talaromyces wortmannii is an endophytic fungus, which is known to produce high bioactive natural compounds. We hypothesize that compound C but also the crude extract from T. wortmannii may possess both antibacterial activity especially against P. acnes and also anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and P. acnes-induced IL-8 release. Treatment of keratinocytes (HaCaT) with P. acnes significantly increased NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activation, as well as IL-8 release. Compound C inhibited P. acnes-mediated activation of NF-κB and AP-1 by inhibiting IκB degradation and the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK MAP kinases, and IL-8 release in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these results, compound C has effective antimicrobial activity against P. acnes and anti-inflammatory activity, and we suggest that this substance or the crude extract are alternative treatments for antibiotic/anti-inflammatory therapy for acne vulgaris.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acne Vulgaris / microbiology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Products / isolation & purification
  • Biological Products / pharmacology
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Complex Mixtures / pharmacology*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Endophytes / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Propionibacterium acnes / drug effects
  • Propionibacterium acnes / physiology*
  • Talaromyces / chemistry*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Complex Mixtures
  • Interleukin-8
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Grants and funding

The studies were funded by the "Deutsche Bundes Stiftung für Umwelt (DPU)" and the "Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG; eCall Nr. 2427070)". The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.