Fucoxanthin, a Marine Carotenoid, Suppresses Mycoplasma pneumoniae-Triggered Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Promotes Bacterial Clearance in a Murine Model

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), an atypical bacterium, is a common pathogenetic organism of respiratory infection in children. In the present study, we analyzed the beneficial role of fucoxanthin (Fx), a marine carotenoid, in a murine model of MP. C57BL/6 mice were inoculated once intranasally with 10(7) CFU of M. pneumoniae, and we found that Fx treatment markedly decreased BAL (quantitative bronchoalveolar lavage) M. pneumoniae concentrations and alleviated airway obstruction in the infected mice. Moreover, the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β, were significantly decreased by Fx treatment in the BAL samples of infected mice. In vitro study further indicated that Fx treatment markedly suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines in mouse peritoneal macrophages after M. pneumoniae infection. In conclusion, this may be the first study to report the protective role of Fx against M. pneumoniae infection, providing a potential therapeutic agent for MP.