Amiodarone and bepridil inhibit anthrax toxin entry into host cells

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007 Jul;51(7):2403-11. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01184-06. Epub 2007 May 7.

Abstract

Anthrax lethal toxin is one of the fundamental components believed to be responsible for the virulence of Bacillus anthracis. In order to find novel compounds with anti-lethal toxin properties, we used a cell-based assay to screen a collection of approximately 500 small molecules. Nineteen compounds that blocked lethal toxin-mediated killing of RAW 264.7 macrophages were identified, and we report here on the characterization of the two most potent antitoxic compounds, amiodarone and bepridil. These drugs are used to treat cardiac arrhythmia or angina in humans at doses similar to those that provide protection against lethal toxin in vitro. Our results support a model whereby the antitoxic properties of both drugs result from their ability to block endosomal acidification, thereby blocking toxin entry. Amiodarone was tested in vivo and found to significantly increase survival of lethal toxin-challenged Fischer rats.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amiodarone / chemistry
  • Amiodarone / pharmacology*
  • Amiodarone / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Anthrax / prevention & control*
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Bepridil / chemistry
  • Bepridil / pharmacology*
  • Bepridil / therapeutic use
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology
  • Chloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cyclic AMP / analysis
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / microbiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • anthrax toxin
  • Bepridil
  • Chloroquine
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Amiodarone