Inhibition of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) by mizoribine: synergistic effect of combination with interferon-alpha.

Abstract

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a well-characterized member of the Flaviviridae family. BVDV may be a surrogate model for human hepatitis C virus (HCV), since HCV does not replicate efficiently in cell cultures and animals. Mizoribine, a nucleoside analog clinically used as an immunosuppressant, was found to be active against the replication of BVDV in cell culture. We further investigated the combination of mizoribine and interferon (IFN)-alpha for antiviral activity and found that the combination synergistically inhibited BVDV replication in bovine kidney cells, as monitored by the inhibition of virus-induced cytopathicity. The combination of ribavirin and IFN-alpha was also synergistic in inhibiting BVDV replication. Treatment of infected cells with a combination of mizoribine and IFN-alpha at the concentrations, at which the respective compounds proved to be inactive, markedly reduced viral infectivity in culture supernatants. These results indicate that mizoribine in combination with IFN-alpha may have potential for the treatment of HCV infection.

• Authors: Koichiro Yanagida, Chiaki Baba, Masanori Baba
• Journal: Antiviral research (Antiviral Res) Vol. 64 Issue 3 Pg. 195-201 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 0166-3542 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15550273 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Interferon-alpha
• Ribonucleosides
• Ribavirin
• mizoribine

Topics

• Animals
• Cattle
• Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral (drug effects, physiology)
• Drug Synergism
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Hepacivirus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Interferon-alpha (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Ribavirin (pharmacology)
• Ribonucleosides (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured