Propranolol ameliorates the antifungal activity of azoles in invasive candidiasis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2023
Abstract
The effectiveness of current antifungal therapies is hampered by the emergence of drug resistance strains, highlighting an urgent need for new alternatives such as adjuvant antifungal treatments. This study aims to examine the synergism between propranolol and antifungal drugs, based on the premise that propranolol is known to inhibit fungal hyphae. In vitro studies demonstrate that propranolol potentiates the antifungal activity of azoles and that the effect is more pronounced for propranolol-itraconazole combination. Using an in vivo murine systemic candidemia model, we show that propranolol-itraconazole combination treatment resulted in a lower rate of body weight loss, decreased kidney fungal bioburden and renal inflammation when compared to propranolol and azole treatment alone or untreated control. Altogether, our findings suggest that propranolol increases the efficacy of azoles against C. albicans, offering a new therapeutic strategy against invasive fungal infections.
Keywords
Antifungal therapies, Synergism, Propranolol-itraconazole, Candida albicans
Divisions
fac_med
Publication Title
Pharmaceutics
Volume
15
Issue
4
Publisher
MDPI
Publisher Location
ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND