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Pycnogenol reduces the expression of P. aeruginosa T3SS and inflammatory response in NCI-H292 cells
Seung-Ho Kim, Da Yun Seo, Sang-Bae Han, Un-Hwan Ha, Ji-Won Park, Kyung-Seop Ahn
J. Microbiol. 2025;63(10):2503004.   Published online September 19, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2503004
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Nosocomial infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) have become increasingly common, particularly among immunocompromised individuals, who experience high mortality rates and prolonged treatment durations due to the limited availability of effective therapies. In this study, we screened for anti-ExoS compounds targeting P. aeruginosa and identified pycnogenol (PYC) as a potent inhibitor of the type III secretion system (T3SS), a major virulence mechanism responsible for the translocation of effectors such as ExoS. Using ELISA, western blotting, and real-time PCR analyses in both P. aeruginosa and infected H292 cells, we found that PYC significantly reduced T3SS activity. Mechanistically, PYC suppressed the transcription of T3SS-related genes by downregulating exsA expression in P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, pretreatment with PYC attenuated the cytotoxic effects and reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), in P. aeruginosa-infected H292 cells. These effects were associated with the inhibition of NF-κB signaling and inflammasome activation. Taken together, our findings suggest that PYC may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate against P. aeruginosa infections by targeting T3SS-mediated virulence and modulating host inflammatory responses.

Examination of the Antioxidant Potential of Pycnogenol under Conditions of Oxidative Stress in Escherichia coli Mutants Deficient in HP1 and Superoxide Dismutase Activities
Jeong A Youm , Young Gon Kim
J. Microbiol. 2003;41(1):28-33.
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Pycnogenol (PYC) is believed to have potential as a therapeutic agent against free radical-mediated oxidative stress. It is important, therefore, to understand the interactions between PYC and cellular defenses against oxidative stress. Toward this end, we analyzed the survival rates on the gene expression responses of E. coli sod katG mutants to PYC after pre-treatment of PQ or H_2O_2-mediated stress under aerobic conditions. We identified SOD induced by PYC, but not HP1 in sod katG mutants. A striking result was the PYC induction of SOD with antioxidant property in single katG mutant cells, particularly MnSOD and CuZnSOD. These inductions were further increased with oxidative stress, while HP1 was not induced in these conditions. The effects of pycnogenol treatment on these cells depend in part on its concentration on the stress response. Protective effects of PYC exposure which affected gene expression in cells were consistent with cell survival rates. Our results demonstrate that pycnogenol may alter the stress response gene expression in a specific manner such as SoxRS because PYC induction of single mutant only worked under increased PQ stress. All together our data indicate that SOD activity is essential for the cellular defense against PQ-mediated oxidative stress, suggesting that PYC may not be effective as an antioxidant in only oxidative stress conditions. On the other hand, it was expected that PYC may play a role as a pro-oxidant and if it is available for use, it should be evaluated carefully.

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