Cystatin C, a human proteinase inhibitor, blocks replication of herpes simplex virus.

Abstract

Cystatin C is a human cysteine proteinase inhibitor present in extracellular fluids. Cystatin C and a tripeptide derivative (Z-LVG-CHN2) that mimics its proteinase-binding center, were tested for possible antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) and poliovirus type 1. Both recombinant cystatin C and Z-LVG-CHN2 displayed strong inhibitory effects on HSV replication, whereas no significant effect on poliovirus replication was seen. The molar concentration of cystatin C that gave total inhibition of HSV replication was lower than that of either Z-LVG-CHN2 or of acyclovir, the drug currently most used against HSV infections. These results suggest that cysteine proteinase inhibitors might play a physiological role as inhibitors of viral replication and that such proteinase inhibitors, or peptide derivatives that mimic their proteinase-binding centers, might be used as antiviral agents.

• Authors: L Björck, A Grubb, L Kjellén
• Journal: Journal of virology (J Virol) Vol. 64 Issue 2 Pg. 941-3 (Feb 1990) ISSN: 0022-538X [Print] United States
• PMID: 2153254 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• CST3 protein, human
• Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins
• Cystatin C
• Cystatins
• Oligopeptides
• N-benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-valyl-glycine diazomethane

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Antiviral Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Line
• Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins (pharmacology)
• Cystatin C
• Cystatins (pharmacology)
• Kinetics
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Oligopeptides (pharmacology)
• Simplexvirus (drug effects, growth & development, physiology)
• Virus Replication (drug effects)