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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · mouse · 2024

1 result

Skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction mediated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing transcription factor MvfR: reversing effects with anti-MvfR and mitochondrial-targeted compounds.

Aggarwal S, Singh V, Chakraborty A, Cha S, Dimitriou A, de Crescenzo C, Izikson O, Yu L, Plebani R, Tzika AA, Rahme LG

mBio11 Jun 2024Cited by 9 (Europe PMC)

Summary

Sepsis and chronic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading "ESKAPE" bacterial pathogen, are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and skeletal muscle atrophy. The actions of this pathogen on skeletal muscle remain poorly understood. In skeletal muscle, mitochondria serve as a crucial energy source, which may be perturbed by infection. Here, using the well-established backburn and infection model of murine P. aeruginosa infection, we deciphered the systemic impact of the quorum-sensing transcription factor MvfR (multiple virulence factor regulator) by interrogating, 5 days post-infection, its effect on mitochondrial-related functions in the gastrocnemius skeletal muscle and the outcome of the pharmacological inhibition of MvfR function and that of the mitochondrial-targeted peptide, Szeto-Schiller 31 (SS-31). Our findings show that the MvfR perturbs adenosine triphosphate generation, oxidative phosphorylation, and antioxidant response, elevates the production of reactive oxygen species, and promotes oxidative damage of mitochondrial DNA in the gastrocnemius muscle of infected mice. These impairments in mitochondrial-related functions were corroborated by the alteration of key mitochondrial proteins involved in electron transport, mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics and quality control, and mitochondrial uncoupling. Pharmacological inhibition of MvfR using the potent anti-MvfR lead, D88, we developed, or the mitochondrial-targeted peptide SS-31 rescued the MvfR-mediated alterations observed in mice infected with the wild-type strain PA14. Our study provides insights into the actions of MvfR in orchestrating mitochondrial dysfunction in the skeletal murine muscle, and it presents novel therapeutic approaches for optimizing clinical outcomes in affected patients.ImportanceSkeletal muscle, pivotal for many functions in the human body, including breathing and protecting internal organs, contains abundant mitochondria essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis during infection. The effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections on skeletal muscle remains poorly understood. Our study delves into the role of a central quorum-sensing transcription factor, multiple virulence factor regulator (MvfR), that controls the expression of multiple acute and chronic virulence functions that contribute to the pathogenicity of PA. The significance of our study lies in the role of MvfR in the metabolic perturbances linked to mitochondrial functions in skeletal muscle and the effectiveness of the novel MvfR inhibitor and the mitochondrial-targeted peptide SS-31 in alleviating the mitochondrial disturbances caused by PA in skeletal muscle. Inhibiting MvfR or interfering with its effects can be a potential therapeutic strategy to curb PA virulence.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In mice infected with P. aeruginosa PA14, the mitochondria-targeted peptide SS‑31 rescued the MvfR-mediated alterations in muscle mitochondrial function.

    In plain wordsIn infected mice, SS‑31 reversed the harm that the bacterial MvfR factor caused to muscle mitochondria.

    Outcome
    MixedMvfR-mediated mitochondrial alterations in skeletal muscle
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Backburn and P. aeruginosa PA14 infection model, gastrocnemius muscle
    Outcome group
    Mitochondrial function · Infection
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Pharmacological inhibition of MvfR using the potent anti-MvfR lead, D88, we developed, or the mitochondrial-targeted peptide SS-31 rescued the MvfR-mediated alterations observed in mice infected with the wild-type strain PA14.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Here, using the well-established backburn and infection model of murine P. aeruginosa infection

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Version history

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  1. Version 2Current

    10 Oct 2026, 08:19 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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