Antiviral action of synthetic stigmasterol derivatives on herpes simplex virus replication in nervous cells in vitro

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:947560. doi: 10.1155/2014/947560. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Abstract

Polyfunctionalized stigmasterol derivatives, (22S,23S)-22,23-dihydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (compound 1) and (22S,23S)-3β-bromo-5α,22,23-trihydroxystigmastan-6-one (compound 2), inhibit herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication and spreading in human epithelial cells derived from ocular tissues. Both compounds reduce the incidence and severity of lesions in a murine model of herpetic stromal keratitis when administered in different treatment modalities. Since encephalitis caused by HSV-1 is another immunopathology of viral origin, we evaluate here the antiviral effect of both compounds on HSV-1 infected nervous cell lines as well as their anti-inflammatory action. We found that both stigmasterol derivatives presented low cytotoxicity in the three nervous cell lines assayed. Regarding the antiviral activity, in all cases both compounds prevented HSV-1 multiplication when added after infection, as well as virus propagation. Additionally, both compounds were able to hinder interleukin-6 and Interferon-gamma secretion induced by HSV-1 infection in Neuro-2a cells. We conclude that compounds 1 and 2 have exerted a dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory effect in HSV-1 infected nervous cell lines, which makes them interesting molecules to be further studied.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cholestanones / pharmacology*
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / drug effects*
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Stigmasterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Stigmasterol / pharmacology*
  • Vero Cells / drug effects
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • 22,23-dihydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one
  • 3-bromo-5,22,23-trihydroxystigmastan-6-one
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Cholestanones
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Stigmasterol