Synthesis of a Vpr-Binding Derivative for Use as a Novel HIV-1 Inhibitor

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 23;10(12):e0145573. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145573. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The emergence of multidrug-resistant viruses compromises the efficacy of anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) therapy and limits treatment options. Therefore, new targets that can be used to develop novel antiviral agents need to be identified. We previously identified a potential parent compound, hematoxylin, which suppresses the nuclear import of HIV-1 via the Vpr-importin α interaction and inhibits HIV-1 replication in a Vpr-dependent manner by blocking nuclear import of the pre-integration complex. However, it was unstable. Here, we synthesized a stable derivative of hematoxylin that bound specifically and stably to Vpr and inhibited HIV-1 replication in macrophages. Furthermore, like hematoxylin, the derivative inhibited nuclear import of Vpr in an in vitro nuclear import assay, but had no effect on Vpr-induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest or caspase activity. Interestingly, this derivative bound strongly to amino acid residues 54-74 within the C-terminal α-helical domain (αH3) of Vpr. These residues are highly conserved among different HIV strains, indicating that this region is a potential target for drug-resistant HIV-1 infection. Thus, we succeeded in developing a stable hematoxylin derivative that bound directly to Vpr, suggesting that specific inhibitors of the interaction between cells and viral accessory proteins may provide a new strategy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • Hematoxylin / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / virology
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*
  • vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Hematoxylin

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by a Health Sciences Research Grant from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, Research on HIV/AIDS (ID: H25-AIDS-003 and ID: 15fk0410010h0002, http://www.jhsf.or.jp/English/index_e.html), and by the Program for the Promotion of Fundamental Studies in Health Sciences of the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation (NIBIO) of Japan (ID 06-01, http://www.nibio.go.jp/english/index.html).