Effects of Fluticasone Propionate on <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> and Gram-Negative Bacteria Associated with Chronic Airway Disease
Lesa Begley, Kristopher Opron, Guowu Bian, Ariangela J. Kozik, Cai Liu, Jeremy Felton, Bo Wen, Duxin Sun, Yvonne J. Huang
Abstract
Inhaled corticosteroids are widely prescribed for many respiratory diseases, including asthma and COPD. While they benefit many patients, corticosteroids can also have negative effects. Some patients do not improve with treatment and even experience adverse side effects. Recent studies have shown that inhaled corticosteroids can change the make-up of bacteria in the human respiratory tract. However, whether these medications can directly impact the behavior of such bacteria has been unknown. Here, we explored the effects of fluticasone propionate, a commonly prescribed inhaled corticosteroid, on Klebsiella pneumoniae and other airway bacteria of interest, including primary species isolated from adult asthma patients. We provide evidence of growth responses to direct fluticasone exposure in culture and further examined fluticasone's effects on K. pneumoniae, including gene expression changes and effects of fluticasone-exposed bacteria on airway cells. These findings indicate that members of the human airway bacterial community possess the functional ability to respond to corticosteroids, which may have implications for the heterogeneity of treatment response observed clinically.