In vitro activity of deferoxamine against Porphyromonas gingivalis

Deferoxamine (DFO), an FDA-approved iron chelator used for treatment of iron poisoning, affects bacteria as iron availability is intimately connected with growth and several virulence determinants. However, little is known about the effect on oral pathogens. In this study, the effect of DFO on Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontopathogen which has an essential growth requirement for hemin (Fe(3+)-protoporphyrin IX), was evaluated. The viability of P. gingivalis W83 was not affected by 0.06-0.24 mM DFO, whereas the doubling time of the bacterium was considerably prolonged by DFO. The inhibitory effect was evident at earlier stages of growth and reduced by supplemental iron. UV-visible spectra using the pigments from P. gingivalis cells grown on blood agar showed that DFO inhibited mu-oxo bisheme formation by the bacterium. DFO decreased accumulation and energy-driven uptake of hemin by P. gingivalis. Antibacterial effect of H(2)O(2) and metronidazole against P. gingivalis increased in the presence of DFO. Collectively, DFO is effective for hemin deprivation in P. gingivalis suppressing the growth and increasing the susceptibility of the bacterium to other antimicrobial agents such as H(2)O(2) and metronidazole. Further experiments are necessary to show that DFO may be used as a therapeutic agent for periodontal disease.