Liposomal Glutathione Exhibits Direct and Intracellular Antimycobacterial Activity Against Mycobacterium avium via...

Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) is an opportunistic intracellular pathogen causing chronic pulmonary disease in immunocompromised individuals, particularly in those with HIV/AIDS. Current treatments present challenges due to duration, antibiotic resistance and toxicity, creating a need for novel treatments. Glutathione (GSH), a key intracellular antioxidant, is depleted in immunocompromised individuals. This study evaluated the direct and intracellular antimycobacterial activity of liposomal glutathione (L-GSH) against M. avium. Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and depolarization effects of L-GSH were also determined. Our results indicate that L-GSH has potent direct antimycobacterial activity against M. avium through membrane depolarization and reduces intracellular survival of M. avium in human macrophages. Given the established GSH deficiency in HIV-infected individuals and the clinical need for novel Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) therapies with favorable safety profiles, these findings support further investigation of L-GSH as a host-directed therapeutic agent for HIV-associated M. avium infections.