Skin androgens regulate Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity via quorum sensing - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #Staphylococcus aureus
- #quorum sensing
- #testosterone
- Skin cells secrete testosterone, with males secreting more than females.
- Males are more susceptible to skin infections than females.
- Mice with testosterone-deficient skin are resistant to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
- Testosterone promotes S. aureus virulence by activating the agr quorum-sensing pathway, independent of auto-inducing peptides.
- A functional histidine kinase AgrC in S. aureus is required for testosterone's effect, with evidence suggesting a direct interaction.
- Enantiomer-testosterone, an isomer of testosterone, inhibits S. aureus-induced cytotoxicity by blocking bacterial quorum sensing.
- The study reveals a potential therapeutic strategy for managing infections by targeting quorum sensing.