Open AccessPhenothiazine is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin E 2 production by C andida albicans biofilms
Author(s) -
Ells Ruan,
Kemp Gabré,
Albertyn Jacobus,
Kock Johan L.F.,
Pohl Carolina H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/1567-1364.12093
Subject(s) - candida albicans , biofilm , corpus albicans , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , atp binding cassette transporter , efflux , phenothiazine , yeast , biochemistry , transporter , bacteria , pharmacology , genetics , gene
C andida albicans is an important opportunistic yeast pathogen of humans and has the ability to form drug‐resistant biofilms, with increased expression of multidrug ATP ‐binding cassette ( ABC ) transporters. These biofilms are also capable of secreting immune‐modulating prostaglandin E 2 ( PGE 2 ) from host‐derived arachidonic acid ( AA ). Phenothiazine, an aromatic amine, and its derivatives display broad activity as inhibitors and antioxidants. These compounds have fungistatic and fungicidal activity against planktonic C . albicans and can inhibit ABC transporters of C . albicans . This study investigated the effect of phenothiazine on biofilm formation, ABC transporters and PGE 2 production by C . albicans . This was carried out by growing C . albicans biofilms in the presence of AA and phenothiazine and measuring the biomass as well as reduction of 2,3‐bis(2‐methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5‐sulphophenyl)‐5[(phenylamino) carbonyl]‐2H tetrazolium hydroxide. The effect on ABC transporters was determined by rhodamine 6G efflux, and the concentration of PGE 2 was determined by a monoclonal PGE 2 enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and LC / MS / MS . Our results indicate that phenothiazine can cause a reduction in both the metabolic activity and biomass of C . albicans biofilms, without affecting biofilm morphology or ABC transporters. However, it is a potent inhibitor of PGE 2 production by C . albicans biofilms.