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The herbal-derived honokiol and magnolol enhances immune response to infection with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)

  • Applied microbial and cell physiology
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The emergence of antibiotic resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) reminds us an urgent need to develop a new immune-modulating agent for preventing S. aureus infection. In this study, we found that herbal medicines, honokiol and magnolol, caused a significant cellular immune modulatory effect during S. aureus infection. In mouse macrophages, these compounds drove upregulation of an antioxidant effect in response to S. aureus, resulting in a dampened total cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and decreased production of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, whereas honokiol induced increased types I and III interferon messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in response to MSSA infection. Moreover, the internalization of S. aureus by human alveolar epithelial cells was inhibited by these compounds. Furthermore, honokiol and magnolol treatment promoted a delay in killing during MSSA infection in Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting antimicrobial function in vivo. In conclusion, honokiol and magnolol may be considered as attractive immune-modulating treatment for S. aureus infection.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from by the Korean Health Technology R&D Projects (R1306922), Ministry for Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (O.S.S), and by the Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ009769 to Y.K.), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Brain Korea 21 Plus for Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

      Eun-Jin Choi, Hyung-Ip Kim, Ji-Ae Kim & Ok Sarah Shin

    2. Asian Pacific Influenza Institute, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

      Eun-Jin Choi

    3. iNtRON Biotechnology, Inc., Room 903, JungAng Induspia V, 137, Sagimakgol-ro, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 462-807, Korea

      Soo Youn Jun & Sang Hyeon Kang

    4. Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-746, Korea

      Dong June Park

    5. BK21 Plus Graduate Program, Department of Animal Science and Institute Agricultural Science & Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, Korea

      Seok-Jun Son & Younghoon Kim

    6. Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

      Ok Sarah Shin

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    1. Eun-Jin Choi
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    Correspondence to Younghoon Kim.

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    Younghoon Kim and Ok Sarah Shin contributed equally to this study.

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    Choi, EJ., Kim, HI., Kim, JA. et al. The herbal-derived honokiol and magnolol enhances immune response to infection with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 99, 4387–4396 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-6382-y

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