TY - JOUR
T1 - Eugenol protects against Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis by inhibiting inflammatory response and reducing fungal load
AU - Yu, Bing
AU - Li, Cui
AU - Gu, Lingwen
AU - Zhang, Lina
AU - Wang, Qian
AU - Zhang, Yan
AU - Lin, Jing
AU - Hu, Liting
AU - Jia, Yiyi
AU - Yin, Min
AU - Zhao, Guiqiu
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2022/6/5
Y1 - 2022/6/5
N2 - Fungal keratitis is a corneal infection, which severely impairs vision. The fungal pathogen provokes host immune response, but the excessive inflammatory response causes significant collateral damage to the cornea. Eugenol, the main component of clove oil, has been found to have a broad range of pharmacological activities including anti-microbial, antioxidation and anti-inflammation. However, the role of eugenol in Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that eugenol reduced mice keratitis severity, inflammatory cells infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and the fungal load. Eugenol also decreased the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). We confirmed that the anti-inflammatory effects of eugenol were related to activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Heme Oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that eugenol could inhibit the A. fumigatus growth and adhesion to host cells, as well as damage the fungal biofilm. The antifungal mechanism seemed to be disrupting the integrity of the fungal membrane and reducing the biosynthesis of ergosterol. Taken together, our research suggested that eugenol exerted protective effects on mouse A. fumigatus keratitis, due to its anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity.
AB - Fungal keratitis is a corneal infection, which severely impairs vision. The fungal pathogen provokes host immune response, but the excessive inflammatory response causes significant collateral damage to the cornea. Eugenol, the main component of clove oil, has been found to have a broad range of pharmacological activities including anti-microbial, antioxidation and anti-inflammation. However, the role of eugenol in Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that eugenol reduced mice keratitis severity, inflammatory cells infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and the fungal load. Eugenol also decreased the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). We confirmed that the anti-inflammatory effects of eugenol were related to activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Heme Oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that eugenol could inhibit the A. fumigatus growth and adhesion to host cells, as well as damage the fungal biofilm. The antifungal mechanism seemed to be disrupting the integrity of the fungal membrane and reducing the biosynthesis of ergosterol. Taken together, our research suggested that eugenol exerted protective effects on mouse A. fumigatus keratitis, due to its anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity.
KW - A. fumigatus
KW - Antifungal treatment
KW - Eugenol
KW - Fungal keratitis
KW - Nrf2
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128418688&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174955
DO - 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174955
M3 - Article
C2 - 35436473
AN - SCOPUS:85128418688
SN - 0014-2999
VL - 924
JO - European Journal of Pharmacology
JF - European Journal of Pharmacology
M1 - 174955
ER -