Quercetin can reduce viral RNA level of O'nyong-nyong virus and resulting innate immune cytokine responses in cultured human synovial fibroblasts

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 18;11(1):6369. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85840-z.

Abstract

O'nyong-nyong virus is an alphavirus closely related to chikungunya virus, causing arthralgia, rash and fever. Alphaviruses mainly target synovial fibroblasts and persists in the joints of patients, possibly leading to chronic arthritis. To date, no specific antiviral treatment is available for ONNV infection and induced-inflammation. Primary human synovial fibroblasts cells were used to assess infection by ONNV and the resulting cytokine responses. Phenolics (gallic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, curcumin and quercetin) and a curcuminoids-rich extract from turmeric were tested for their antiviral and anti-inflammatory capacities. We showed that infection occurred in HSF cells and increased gene expression and protein secretion of two major proinflammatory CCL-2 and IL-1β markers. In ONNV-infected HSF cells (MOI 1), we found that non-cytotoxic concentrations of phenolics (10 µM) reduced the level of viral RNA (E1, E2, nsP1, nsP2) and downregulated CCL-2 and IL-1β expression and secretion. These results highlighted the high value of the flavonol quercetin to reduce viral RNA levels and inflammatory status induced by ONNV in HSF cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alphavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Alphavirus Infections / genetics
  • Alphavirus Infections / pathology
  • Alphavirus Infections / virology
  • Caffeic Acids / pharmacology
  • Chemokine CCL2 / genetics*
  • Chlorogenic Acid / pharmacology
  • Curcumin / pharmacology
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Fibroblasts / virology
  • Gallic Acid / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics*
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics*
  • O'nyong-nyong Virus / genetics
  • O'nyong-nyong Virus / pathogenicity
  • Quercetin / pharmacology
  • Synovial Fluid / drug effects
  • Synovial Fluid / virology

Substances

  • Caffeic Acids
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Cytokines
  • IL1B protein, human
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Chlorogenic Acid
  • Gallic Acid
  • Quercetin
  • Curcumin
  • caffeic acid