Inhibition by monensin of human cytomegalovirus DNA replication

Wnt modulating agents inhibit human cytomegalovirus replication

Infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) continues to be a threat for pregnant women and immunocompromised hosts. Although limited anti-HCMV therapies are available, development of new agents is desired. The Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in embryonic and cancer stem cell development and is targeted by gammaherpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). HCMV infects stem cells, including neural progenitor cells, during embryogenesis. To investigate the role of Wnt in HCMV replication in vitro, we tested monensin, nigericin, and salinomycin, compounds that inhibit cancer stem cell growth by modulating the Wnt pathway. These compounds inhibited the replication of HCMV Towne and a clinical isolate. Inhibition occurred prior to DNA replication but persisted throughout the full replication cycle. There was a significant decrease in expression of IE2, UL44, and pp65 proteins. HCMV infection resulted in a significant and sustained decrease in expression of phosphorylated and total lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (pLRP6 and LRP6, respectively), Wnt 5a/b, and β-catenin and a modest decrease in Dvl2/3, while levels of the negative regulator axin 1 were increased. Nigericin decreased the expression of pLRP6, LRP6, axin 1, and Wnt 5a/b in noninfected and HCMV-infected cells. For all three compounds, a correlation was found between expression levels of Wnt 5a/b and axin 1 and HCMV inhibition. The decrease in Wnt 5a/b and axin 1 expression was more significant in HCMV-infected cells than noninfected cells. These data illustrate the complex effects of HCMV on the Wnt pathway and the fine balance between Wnt and HCMV, resulting in abrogation of HCMV replication. Additional studies are required to elucidate how HCMV targets Wnt for its benefit.

Discovery of anti-varicella zoster virus activity of polyether antibiotic CP-44161

In search for new anti-varicella zoster virus (VZV) compounds with new mechanism of action, we applied a DNA hybridization assay (dot blot method) for screening. Using this method, we screened microbial products and found the polyether compound CP-44161 from the culture broth of an actinomycete strain. CP-44161 was previously reported as an anticoccidal agent, but there has been no claim of its antiviral activities. CP-44161 showed strong anti-VZV activity against pOka strain by plaque reduction assay. Moreover, CP-44161 showed lower cytotoxicity than other antiviral polyethers, such as monensin and nigericin. Its better safety margin and strong anti-VZV properties make it a good candidate for a new anti-VZV agent.

Anti-herpes virus activity of polyether antibiotic CP-44161 in vivo

In the previous study, we discovered a polyether antibiotic CP-44161, which was reported earlier as an anticoccidal agent, as an anti-varicella zoster virus compound. In this study, we demonstrated that CP-44161 had a very strong and broad anti-herpes virus activities against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) in vitro. To determine the antiviral activity of CP-44161 in vivo, we examined its effect on the cutaneous HSV-2 infection model in Balb/c mice. CP-44161 showed inhibitory effect on lesion development as well as acyclovir (ACV) when the treatment was started from day 3. Meanwhile, in case the start of treatment was delayed until day 4, when ACV was no longer effective, the effectiveness of CP-44161 still remained. In this model, CP-44161 also showed inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HSV-2 DNA in dorsal root ganglia. This is the first article to report that polyether antibiotics can be effective on viral infection in vivo.

Retrieval of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B from the infected cell surface for virus envelopment

Surface biotinylation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected fibroblasts under pulse-chase conditions was used to define the cellular route of the dominant viral envelope glycoprotein gB into the cytoplasmic compartment of viral maturational envelopment. The results showed that a major fraction of gB was re-internalized from the infected cell surface prior to incorporation into the viral envelope. Viral particles carrying biotinylated gB were subsequently released into the culture medium. Viral release appeared to be inhibited in the presence of gB-specific antibody or when infected cultures were incubated at room temperature, but was not reduced by inhibitors of cellular glycoprotein transport. To our knowledge this is the first report describing that HCMV gB is retrieved from the infected cell surface prior to viral envelopment.

Increased cytomegalovirus infection of human fibroblast and endothelial cells by electroporation

Electroporation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the presence of HCMV caused an increase in the infection of these cells by the virus. This method could be applied to cells that are difficult to infect by ordinary laboratory methods and also in cases when synchronized infection of the cells by the virus is needed.

Inhibition of endoproteolytic cleavage of cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein B by palmitoyl-peptidyl-chloromethyl ketone

Endoproteolytic cleavage of glycoprotein B (gB) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is inhibited by palmitoylated peptidyl-chloromethyl ketone (palFAKR-CEK) at concentrations above 30 microM. Inhibitor treatment of HCMV-infected human fibroblasts neither interfered with exposure of gB on the plasma membrane, detected by surface membrane immunostaining, nor reduced production of intracellular infectious viral progeny. Release of infectious virus, on the other hand, was impaired.

Nuclear compartmentation of glycoprotein B of human cytomegalovirus

Maturation of glycoprotein B (gB) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) includes a series of sequential glycosylation steps followed by proteolytic cleavage of the precursor protein. Inhibitors of glycosylation and glycoprotein processing, including tunicamycin, monensin, and bromoconduritol, were used to define further the processing pathway of HCMV gB. The results of these studies indicated that cotranslational glycosylation and intracellular transport are essential for subsequent cleavage of the precursor; early trimming in the endoplasmic reticulum is not a prerequisite but facilitates this processing event. Analysis of purified nuclei with gB-specific monoclonal antibody suggested that the mannose-rich gB-precursor intermediate(s) is (are) compartmentalized in the nuclear fraction. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that HCMV gB was localized in the outer as well as in the inner nuclear membranes of HCMV-infected fibroblasts.

Acquisition of cytomegalovirus infection: an update

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous deoxyribonucleic acid virus that commonly infects a majority of individuals at some time during their life. Although most of these CMV infections are asymptomatic, certain patient groups are at risk to develop serious illness. Understanding the epidemiology of this virus is a key element in the development of strategies for preventing CMV disease. However, a number of features of this virus complicate such understanding. Following infection, CMV can remain latent, with subsequent reactivation; the factors controlling latency and reactivation and those factors which determine whether a CMV infection will be symptomatic are unknown. CMV disease can be acquired by natural routes, including horizontal and vertical transmission. Due to the ubiquity of CMV, the delineation of CMV transmission by these natural routes is complicated by the myriad of possible sources. Moreover, concerns over the risk of CMV transmission to the seronegative pregnant female have been raised in relation to preventing CMV transmission. By using molecular biologic techniques, much knowledge has been gained regarding the transmission of CMV disease by natural routes; however, a number of questions remain unanswered. The transmission of CMV infection by natural routes is therefore reviewed and the issues are highlighted. Primary infection, reactivation, and reinfection are the types of active CMV infections that can occur in an immunocompromised patient. In addition to natural routes of infection, introduction of presumably latently infected organs and requirements for multiple blood transfusions increase potential exposure to CMV in the immunocompromised patient. Understanding the epidemiology of CMV infections in the immunocompromised patient is difficult and in some instances controversial due to the complexity and interdependency of a number of factors which lead to CMV infection. In an immunocompromised individual, a major risk factor in developing overt CMV-related disease is associated with the serological status of an organ donor, the recipient, and the blood product given to these patients. In addition, a large body of inferential data supports the transmission of CMV by blood products or organs from seropositive donors; however, the mechanisms by which transmission occurs remain unclear. The possible sources and mechanisms of transmission of CMV infections in the immunocompromised host are reviewed. Lastly, strategies for the ultimate prevention of CMV disease are discussed in light of the epidemiology of CMV infections. To date, these strategies have included use of CMV-seronegative blood products or organs, antiviral agents, and vaccines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alteration of nuclear lamina protein in human fibroblasts infected with cytomegalovirus (HCMV)

Immunoblotting with monoclonal as well as polyclonal lamin antibodies revealed that nuclear lamina proteins of human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) were differentially affected after infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Lamin A immunoreactivity was progressively lost during the course of the infectious cycle whereas that of lamin C was comparatively stable. This process was not observed in herpes simplex virus-infected HFF. On the other hand, noninfected arrested HFF stimulated by serum to enter S-phase also exhibited loss of lamin A immunoreactivity. Selective in vivo proteolysis of lamin A is suggested as the possible underlying mechanism.

Induction by sodium butyrate of cytomegalovirus replication in human endothelial cells

Cultured endothelial cells are shown to be induced in regard to permissiveness to human cytomegalovirus by temporary treatment postinfection with sodium butyrate (1-2 mM). Drug-treated cells are demonstrated to exhibit expression of immediate early and early viral antigens, synthesis of viral DNA and viral structural glycoprotein B. Progeny virus could be visualized by electron microscopy.

Visualization of glycoproteins after tunicamycin and monensin treatment of herpes simplex virus infected cells

The effects of tunicamycin and monensin on the morphogenesis of herpes simplex virus type 1 and on the ultrastructure and function of host cell membranes was investigated by conventional technics of electron microscopy and cytochemical localization of glycoproteins with thiocarbohydrazide-SO2. Infected RS 537 rabbit fibroblasts were treated with tunicamycin, which inhibits the glycosylation of many glycoproteins, or monensin, which inhibits the transport of proteins to the cell surface, and were compared with untreated infected cells. Tunicamycin treatment almost entirely suppresses the perinuclear envelopment of viral capsids, induces the nuclear export of unusually numerous naked viral capsids, and prevents the proliferation of the Golgi apparatus. On the other hand, perinuclear envelopment of viral capsids still occurs following a monensin treatment; however, enveloped viral capsids are not released into the extracellular space; in addition this treatment induces the proliferation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). The number of structures stained for glycoproteins in tunicamycin-treated cells is markedly lower than that in nontreated infected cells, whereas an unusual additional staining of the entire outer nuclear membrane and of the RER occurs following monensin treatment.