Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Pyocyanin-Induced Toxicity In A549 Respiratory Cells Is Causally Linked To Oxidative Stress, Lee Gloyne, Gary Grant, Anthony Perkins, Katie Powell, Catherine Mcdermott, Peter Johnson, Gregory Anderson, Milton Kiefel, Shailendra Anoopkumar-Dukie

Catherine M. McDermott

Pyocyanin, a virulence factor produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has many damaging effects on mammalian cells. Several lines of evidence suggest that this damage is primarily mediated by its ability to generate ROS and deplete host antioxidant defence mechanisms. However, a causal role for oxidative stress has not yet been demonstrated conclusively. Parallel measures of ROS production, antioxidant levels and cytotoxicity provide convincing evidence that pyocyanin-induced cytotoxicity in A549 respiratory cells is mediated by acute ROS production and subsequent oxidative stress. Pyocyanin increased ROS levels in A549 cells as measured by the fluorescent H2O2 probes Amplex Red and DCFH-DA. These effects …