Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a lethal pathogen that causes high mortality and morbidity in immunocompromised and
critically ill patients. The
type III secretion system (T3SS) of P. aeruginosa mediates many of the adverse effects of
infection with this pathogen, including increased lung permeability in a
Toll-like receptor 4/RhoA/PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1)-dependent manner. α-
Tocopherol has antiinflammatory properties that may make it a useful adjunct in treatment of this moribund
infection. We measured transendothelial and transepithelial resistance, RhoA and
PAI-1 activation, stress fiber formation, P. aeruginosa T3SS exoenzyme (ExoY) intoxication into host cells, and survival in a murine model of
pneumonia in the presence of P. aeruginosa and pretreatment with α-
tocopherol. We found that α-
tocopherol alleviated P. aeruginosa-mediated alveolar endothelial and epithelial paracellular permeability by inhibiting RhoA, in part, via
PAI-1 activation, and increased survival in a mouse model of P. aeruginosa
pneumonia. Furthermore, we found that α-
tocopherol decreased the activation of RhoA and
PAI-1 by blocking the injection of T3SS exoenzymes into alveolar epithelial cells. P. aeruginosa is becoming increasingly
antibiotic resistant. We provide evidence that α-
tocopherol could be a useful therapeutic agent for individuals who are susceptible to
infection with P. aeruginosa, such as those who are immunocompromised or
critically ill.