Glutathione exhibits antibacterial activity and increases tetracycline efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Sci China C Life Sci. 2009 Jun;52(6):501-5. doi: 10.1007/s11427-009-0074-8. Epub 2009 Jun 26.

Abstract

Glutathione (GSH) plays important roles in pulmonary diseases, and inhaled GSH therapy has been used to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in clinical trials. The results in this report revealed that GSH altered the sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to different antibiotics through pathways unrelated to the oxidative stress as generally perceived. In addition, GSH and its oxidized form inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glutathione Disulfide / metabolism
  • Glutathione Synthase / genetics
  • Glutathione Synthase / metabolism
  • Glutathione* / metabolism
  • Glutathione* / pharmacology
  • Glutathione* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Tetracycline* / metabolism
  • Tetracycline* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Glutathione Synthase
  • Tetracycline
  • Glutathione
  • Glutathione Disulfide