The inhibitory effects of anacardic acid on hepatitis C virus life cycle

PLoS One. 2015 Feb 6;10(2):e0117514. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117514. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that causes severe liver diseases. Current anti-HCV therapies involving direct-acting antivirals have significantly enhanced efficacy in comparison to traditional interferon and ribavirin combination. However, further improvement is needed to eradicate HCV. Anacardic acid (AnA) is a phytochemical compound that can inhibit the activity of various cellular enzymes including histone acetyltransferases (HATs). In this study, we investigated the effects of AnA on different phases of HCV life cycle. Our data showed that AnA can inhibit HCV entry, replication, translation, and virion secretion in a dose-dependent manner with no measurable effects on cell viability. In addition, we showed that two HAT inhibitors and knocking down HAT (PCAF) by RNAi can reduce HCV replication, suggesting a mechanism of AnA's inhibitory effects on HCV. Elucidation of the AnA-mediated inhibitory mechanism should facilitate the development of new drug candidates for HCV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anacardic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anacardic Acids
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • anacardic acid
  • Histone Acetyltransferases

Grants and funding

The present study was supported by grants: BL2014025 from Science and Technology Department of Jiangsu Province, F201305 from Jiangsu Province Department of Health, YGZZ1107 and YGZXL1317 from Wuxi Municipal Hospital Management Center in China. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.