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Peer-reviewedCC BYFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Glutathione-linked antioxidant defence limits Edwardsiella tarda-induced cytotoxicity in organic acid-treated gill epithelial cells

  • Igori Balta1
  • Ioan Pet1
  • Lavinia Stef1
  • Ozan Gundogdu2
  • Florica Morariu1
  • Elena Pet3
  • Iuliana Cretescu4
  • Ducu Stef5
  • Nicolae Corcionivoschi1
  • Nicolae Corcionivoschi6
  • Nicolae Corcionivoschi7
7 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
  2. 2Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  3. 3Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
  4. 4Centre for Modeling Biological Systems and Data Analysis “Victor Babes”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
  5. 5Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
  6. 6Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
  7. 7Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
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Abstract

Cytotoxic injury to gill epithelial cells is a major consequence of pathogen infection and can compromise barrier function in aquaculture species. Edwardsiella tarda is an important bacterial pathogen in aquaculture. Infection of gill epithelial cells can damage barrier integrity, induce cytotoxicity, and trigger oxidative and inflammatory stress responses. This study evaluated whether AuraAqua (Aq), an organic acid-based antimicrobial mixture, protects RTgill-W1 cells from E. tarda-induced cytotoxicity and the associated inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Aq showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1% and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 2%. Aq treatment reduced E. tarda adhesion and intracellular bacterial recovery, indicating impaired early host-pathogen interactions. Importantly, Aq was not directly cytotoxic to RTgill-W1 cells at the tested concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 and 2%) and reduced infection-associated LDH release while preserving cell viability and transepithelial electrical resistance. These outcomes were accompanied by increased expression of tight-junction-associated genes, including cldn-10e, cldn-30, and zo-1. During infection, Aq enhanced intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels, reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, decreased H2O2 accumulation, and decreased NF-κB p65 activation. Aq also significantly downregulated IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression in infected cells. Together, these findings show that Aq can stimulate increased endogenous GSH production, which primarily protects RTgill-W1 cells and limits E. tarda-induced cytotoxic injury. This strengthens antioxidant defence, maintains epithelial barrier integrity, and suppresses NF-κB-associated inflammatory signalling.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{balta2026glutathionelinked,
  title = {{Glutathione-linked antioxidant defence limits Edwardsiella tarda-induced cytotoxicity in organic acid-treated gill epithelial cells}},
  author = {Igori Balta and Ioan Pet and Lavinia Stef and Ozan Gundogdu and Florica Morariu and Elena Pet and Iuliana Cretescu and Ducu Stef and Nicolae Corcionivoschi and Nicolae Corcionivoschi and Nicolae Corcionivoschi},
  journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2026.2008102},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.2008102},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Glutathione-linked antioxidant defence limits Edwardsiella tarda-induced cytotoxicity in organic acid-treated gill epithelial cells
AU  - Igori Balta
AU  - Ioan Pet
AU  - Lavinia Stef
AU  - Ozan Gundogdu
AU  - Florica Morariu
AU  - Elena Pet
AU  - Iuliana Cretescu
AU  - Ducu Stef
AU  - Nicolae Corcionivoschi
AU  - Nicolae Corcionivoschi
AU  - Nicolae Corcionivoschi
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
DO  - 10.3389/fcimb.2026.2008102
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.2008102
AB  - Cytotoxic injury to gill epithelial cells is a major consequence of pathogen infection and can compromise barrier function in aquaculture species. Edwardsiella tarda is an important bacterial pathogen in aquaculture. Infection of gill epithelial cells can damage barrier integrity, induce cytotoxicity, and trigger oxidative and inflammatory stress responses. This study evaluated whether AuraAqua (Aq), an organic acid-based antimicrobial mixture, protects RTgill-W1 cells from E. tarda-induced cytotoxicity and the associated inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Aq showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1% and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 2%. Aq treatment reduced E. tarda adhesion and intracellular bacterial recovery, indicating impaired early host-pathogen interactions. Importantly, Aq was not directly cytotoxic to RTgill-W1 cells at the tested concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 and 2%) and reduced infection-associated LDH release while preserving cell viability and transepithelial electrical resistance. These outcomes were accompanied by increased expression of tight-junction-associated genes, including cldn-10e, cldn-30, and zo-1. During infection, Aq enhanced intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels, reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, decreased H2O2 accumulation, and decreased NF-κB p65 activation. Aq also significantly downregulated IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression in infected cells. Together, these findings show that Aq can stimulate increased endogenous GSH production, which primarily protects RTgill-W1 cells and limits E. tarda-induced cytotoxic injury. This strengthens antioxidant defence, maintains epithelial barrier integrity, and suppresses NF-κB-associated inflammatory signalling.
SN  - 2235-2988
ER  -