Journal of Medical Microbiology 2014-11-01

In vitro antiviral and immunomodulatory activity of arbidol and structurally related derivatives in herpes simplex virus type 1-infected human keratinocytes (HaCat).

Brunella Perfetto, Rosanna Filosa, Vincenza De Gregorio, Antonella Peduto, Annalisa La Gatta, Paolo de Caprariis, Maria Antonietta Tufano, Giovanna Donnarumma

Index: J. Med. Microbiol. 63(Pt 11) , 1474-83, (2014)

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Abstract

Arbidol (ARB) is an antiviral drug that has broad-spectrum activity against a number of viral infections. To date, there are no specific data regarding its effects against a herpesvirus. Here, the in vitro antiviral effect of ARB and structurally related derivatives were evaluated in HaCat cells on different steps of herpes simplex virus type 1 replication: adsorption, entry and post-entry. The simplified pyrrolidine analogue, 9a2, showed the best antiviral activity in vitro by reducing the plaque numbers by about 50% instead of 42% obtained with ARB at the same concentration. Furthermore, we have reported that all tested compounds evaluated for their immunomodulatory activity showed the ability to reduce the viral proteins VP16 and ICP27 and to modify the virus-induced cytokine expression, allowing the host cell a more efficient antiviral response.© 2014 The Authors.