Flavone enhances dengue virus type-2 (NGC strain) infectivity and replication in vero cells

Molecules. 2012 Feb 28;17(3):2437-45. doi: 10.3390/molecules17032437.

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of 2-phenyl-1-benzopyran-4-one (flavone) on DENV-2 infectivity in Vero cells. Virus adsorption and attachment and intracellular virus replication were investigated using a foci forming unit assay (FFUA) and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Addition of flavone (100 μg/mL) significantly increased the number of DENV-2 foci by 35.66% ± 1.52 and 49.66% ± 2.51 when added during and after virus adsorption to the Vero cells, respectively. The average foci size after 4 days of infection increased by 33% ± 2.11 and 89% ± 2.13. The DENV-2 specific RNA copy number in the flavone-treated infected cells increased by 6.41- and 23.1-fold when compared to the mock-treated infected cells. Flavone (100 μg/mL) did not promote or inhibit Vero cell proliferation. The CC₅₀ value of flavone against Vero cells was 446 µg/mL. These results suggest that flavone might enhance dengue virus replication by acting antagonistically towards flavonoids known to inhibit dengue virus replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Dengue Virus / genetics
  • Dengue Virus / physiology*
  • Flavones / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Vero Cells
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Flavones
  • RNA, Viral
  • flavone