Interaction of sertraline with Candida species selectively attenuates fungal virulence in vitro

Abstract

This study investigated whether the interaction between isolates of Candida albicans (n=7), Candida parapsilosis (n=3), Candida krusei (n=2), Candida dubliniensis (n=1) and sertraline, a typical selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, alters candidal virulence. Sertraline treatment of Candida spp. significantly (P<0.05) affected hyphal elongation, phospholipase activity, production of secreted aspartyl proteinases and fungal viability. In addition, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) treated with sertraline reduced inhibition of blastoconidia germination in comparison to MDMs alone. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the interaction between sertraline and Candida spp. may also diminish the virulence properties of this fungal pathogen in vivo.

In vitro synergistic effects of metergoline and antifungal agents against Candida krusei

“…Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel antifungal agents. Non‐antibiotic substances such as serotonin re‐uptake inhibitors have been suggested as potential candidates for novel antifungal agents 11–13,15 . In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that metergoline, a serotonin receptor antagonist, possesses antifungal activity against C .…”

“…In these studies, several non‐antibiotic substances have been shown to possess good antifungal activity in vitro 11,12 . In this regard, serotonin and its re‐uptake inhibitors have been suggested as potential novel antifungal candidates because of their efficacy against Candida and Aspergillus species 13–15 . Therefore, in the present study, we used metergoline, a serotonin receptor antagonist, to assess the antifungal activity against FLC‐resistant C. krusei isolates.…”

Metergoline-induced cell death in Candida krusei

“…While apoptosis has been thoroughly examined in human cells, recent studies have confirmed the existence of apoptosis also in baker's yeast and C. albicans. Several well-known apoptotic features could be identified in stressed fungal cells in the presence of external stimuli and the antifungal agent AMB (Lass-Fl€ orl et al 2003;Phillips et al 2003Phillips et al , 2006Wissing et al 2004).…”

Serotonin (5-HT) enhances the activity of amphotericin B against Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro

“…The fact that sertraline attenuates fungal virulence indicates an effect on basic metabolic processes which may or may not Table 1 In vitro activity (MIC) of amphotericin B(Amp B) (mg/L) with serotonin (5-HT) (mg/mL) and with sertraline (Sert) (mg/mL) against conidia of Aspergillus and Candida spp. be related to the uptake of this substance [12]. However, the target remains to be identified.…”