Mechanism of Action of the Anti-Influenza Virus Active Kampo (Traditional Japanese Herbal) Medicine, Hochuekkito

Pharmacology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 101 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 148-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuaki Dan ◽  
Keita Takanashi ◽  
Hiroko Akiyoshi ◽  
Kaori Munakata ◽  
Hideki Hasegawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Plaque Assay ◽  
Virus Titer ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Infection Process ◽  
Assay Method ◽  
Virus Adsorption ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Viral Particles

When the Kampo medicine, Hochuekkito (Hochu), was administered to normal mice for 2 weeks, influenza virus titer was reduced. The mechanism of action of Hochu was examined using the plaque assay method. It was suggested that Hochu may either obstruct the first stage of the infection process (adsorption and entry) or may directly target viral particles. Using the plaque assay method, these 2 modes of action could not be differentiated. Virus RNA in the infected cell was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. An equal inhibition effect was obtained when Hochu was preprocessed for normal cells and when they were made to act simultaneously with virus adsorption. The viral load at the cell surface following UV irradiation was higher in the Hochu-administered group as compared with that of the control. Moreover, the affinity of Hochu for the influenza virus was hundred times higher than its affinity for the host cell. The effect of entry obstruction by Hochu was observed via image analysis, where the amount of virus nucleocapsid protein (NP) invading the cell was visualized with FITC-labeled NP antibody. Hochu does not seem to have an effect on nucleic acid synthesis, viral release from infected cells, and on the subsequent second round of infection. In conclusion, Hochu binds to viral particles and forms complexes that can obstruct the entry of influenza virus into cells.

In Vitro Methods for the Assessment of L-Cysteine Conjugate Toxicity

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-80
Author(s):  
Lorraine D. Buckberry ◽  
Harriet J. Adcock ◽  
Jeremy Adler ◽  
Ian S. Blagbrough ◽  
Peter J. Gaskin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Mercapturic Acid ◽  
Assay Method ◽  
Cellular Toxicity ◽  
In Vitro Methods ◽  
Metabolic Route ◽  
Assay Methods ◽  
Chang Liver

L-Cysteine conjugates are normally metabolised via N-acetylation to produce a mercapturic acid. However, a recently identified metabolic route (C-S lysis) may lead to the generation of an unstable thiol which has been demonstrated to be responsible for toxicity in various mammalian species. Human Chang liver cells were challenged with a number of established L-cysteine conjugates. The cellular toxicity of these compounds was determined using a range of assay procedures, which provided differing information, depending on the assay method used. These observations were then investigated in order to establish which system would provide the most reliable indication of C-S lyase toxicity and whether any information on the mechanism of action could be obtained by these assay methods.

scholarly journals Honeysuckle Aqueous Extracts Induced let-7a Suppress EV71 Replication and Pathogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo and Is Predicted to Inhibit SARS-CoV-2

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
Ying-Ray Lee ◽  
Chia-Ming Chang ◽  
Yuan-Chieh Yeh ◽  
Chi-Ying F. Huang ◽  
Feng-Mao Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Western Blotting ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Plaque Assay ◽  
Virus Titer ◽  
Enterovirus 71 ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Pathogen Invasion

Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with an antipathogenic activity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that are ubiquitously expressed in cells. Endogenous miRNA may function as an innate response to block pathogen invasion. The miRNA expression profiles of both mice and humans after the ingestion of honeysuckle were obtained. Fifteen overexpressed miRNAs overlapped and were predicted to be capable of targeting three viruses: dengue virus (DENV), enterovirus 71 (EV71) and SARS-CoV-2. Among them, let-7a was examined to be capable of targeting the EV71 RNA genome by reporter assay and Western blotting. Moreover, honeysuckle-induced let-7a suppression of EV71 RNA and protein expression as well as viral replication were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that let-7a targeted EV71 at the predicted sequences using luciferase reporter plasmids as well as two infectious replicons (pMP4-y-5 and pTOPO-4643). The suppression of EV71 replication and viral load was demonstrated in two cell lines by luciferase activity, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, Western blotting and plaque assay. Furthermore, EV71-infected suckling mice fed honeysuckle extract or inoculated with let-7a showed decreased clinical scores and a prolonged survival time accompanied with decreased viral RNA, protein expression and virus titer. The ingestion of honeysuckle attenuates EV71 replication and related pathogenesis partially through the upregulation of let-7a expression both in vitro and in vivo. Our previous report and the current findings imply that both honeysuckle and upregulated let-7a can execute a suppressive function against the replication of DENV and EV71. Taken together, this evidence indicates that honeysuckle can induce the expression of let-7a and that this miRNA as well as 11 other miRNAs have great potential to prevent and suppress EV71 replication.

scholarly journals Differential Roles of Viral RNA and cRNA in Functional Modulation of the Influenza Virus RNA Polymerase

2001 ◽  
Vol 276 (33) ◽  
pp. 31179-31185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayae Honda ◽  
Atsushi Endo ◽  
Kiyohisa Mizumoto ◽  
Akira Ishihama
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Functional Modulation

scholarly journals Temperature-Sensitive Mutants in the Influenza A Virus RNA Polymerase: Alterations in the PA Linker Reduce Nuclear Targeting of the PB1-PA Dimer and Result in Viral Attenuation

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 6376-6390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Da Costa ◽  
Alix Sausset ◽  
Sandie Munier ◽  
Alexandre Ghounaris ◽  
Nadia Naffakh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Nuclear Import ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Nuclear Targeting ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Endonuclease Domain

ABSTRACTThe influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalyzes genome replication and transcription within the cell nucleus. Efficient nuclear import and assembly of the polymerase subunits PB1, PB2, and PA are critical steps in the virus life cycle. We investigated the structure and function of the PA linker (residues 197 to 256), located between its N-terminal endonuclease domain and its C-terminal structured domain that binds PB1, the polymerase core. Circular dichroism experiments revealed that the PA linker by itself is structurally disordered. A large series of PA linker mutants exhibited a temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype (reduced viral growth at 39.5°C versus 37°C/33°C), suggesting an alteration of folding kinetic parameters. Thetsphenotype was associated with a reduced efficiency of replication/transcription of a pseudoviral reporter RNA in a minireplicon assay. Using a fluorescent-tagged PB1, we observed thattsand lethal PA mutants did not efficiently recruit PB1 to reach the nucleus at 39.5°C. A protein complementation assay using PA mutants, PB1, and β-importin IPO5 tagged with fragments of theGaussia princepsluciferase showed that increasing the temperature negatively modulated the PA-PB1 and the PA-PB1-IPO5 interactions or complex stability. The selection of revertant viruses allowed the identification of different types of compensatory mutations located in one or the other of the three polymerase subunits. Twotsmutants were shown to be attenuated and able to induce antibodies in mice. Taken together, our results identify a PA domain critical for PB1-PA nuclear import and that is a “hot spot” to engineertsmutants that could be used to design novel attenuated vaccines.IMPORTANCEBy targeting a discrete domain of the PA polymerase subunit of influenza virus, we were able to identify a series of 9 amino acid positions that are appropriate to engineer temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants. This is the first time that a large number oftsmutations were engineered in such a short domain, demonstrating that rational design oftsmutants can be achieved. We were able to associate this phenotype with a defect of transport of the PA-PB1 complex into the nucleus. Reversion substitutions restored the ability of the complex to move to the nucleus. Two of thesetsmutants were shown to be attenuated and able to produce antibodies in mice. These results are of high interest for the design of novel attenuated vaccines and to develop new antiviral drugs.

scholarly journals Inhibition of MLC Phosphorylation Restricts Replication of Influenza Virus—A Mechanism of Action for Anti-Influenza Agents

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e21444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehran Haidari ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Leila Ganjehei ◽  
Muzammil Ali ◽  
Zhenping Chen
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Influenza Virus A ◽  
Mlc Phosphorylation

scholarly journals In Vivo Influenza Virus-Inhibitory Effects of the Cyclopentane Neuraminidase Inhibitor RWJ-270201

2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 749-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Sidwell ◽  
Donald F. Smee ◽  
John H. Huffman ◽  
Dale L. Barnard ◽  
Kevin W. Bailey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Arterial Oxygen Saturation ◽  
Virus Titer ◽  
Neuraminidase Inhibitor ◽  
Arterial Oxygen ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Lung Consolidation

ABSTRACT The cyclopentane influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitor RWJ-270201 was evaluated against influenza A/NWS/33 (H1N1), A/Shangdong/09/93 (H3N2), A/Victoria/3/75 (H3N2), and B/Hong Kong/05/72 virus infections in mice. Treatment was by oral gavage twice daily for 5 days beginning 4 h pre-virus exposure. The influenza virus inhibitor oseltamivir was run in parallel, and ribavirin was included in studies with the A/Shangdong and B/Hong Kong viruses. RWJ-270201 was inhibitory to all infections using doses as low as 1 mg/kg/day. Oseltamivir was generally up to 10-fold less effective than RWJ-270201. Ribavirin was also inhibitory but was less tolerated by the mice at the 75-mg/kg/day dose used. Disease-inhibitory effects included prevention of death, lessening of decline of arterial oxygen saturation, inhibition of lung consolidation, and reduction in lung virus titers. RWJ-270201 and oseltamivir, at doses of 10 and 1 mg/kg/day each, were compared with regard to their effects on daily lung parameters in influenza A/Shangdong/09/93 virus-infected mice. Maximum virus titer inhibition was seen on day 1, with RWJ-270201 exhibiting the greater inhibitory effect, a titer reduction of >104 cell culture 50% infective doses (CCID50)/g. By day 8, the lung virus titers in mice treated with RWJ-270201 had declined to 101.2 CCID50/g, whereas titers from oseltamivir-treated animals were >103CCID50/g. Mean lung consolidation was also higher in the oseltamivir-treated animals on day 8. Both neuraminidase inhibitors were well tolerated by the mice. RWJ-270201 was nontoxic at doses as high as 1,000 mg/kg/day. These data indicate potential for the oral use of RWJ-270201 in the treatment of influenza virus infections in humans.

Three-Dimensional Tracking of Rab5- and Rab7-Associated Infection Process of Influenza Virus

Small ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (22) ◽  
pp. 4746-4753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Lin Liu ◽  
Qiu-Mei Wu ◽  
Li-Juan Zhang ◽  
Zhi-Gang Wang ◽  
En-Ze Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Infection Process
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