Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus IE gene expression by dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes isolated from Euonymus species.

Abstract

The development of strategies intended to inhibit human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early (IE) antigen expression is an important goal in research designed to prevent and treat certain forms of cancer. The aim of this study was to identify potent IE antigen-targeting natural compounds as antitumor promoters in an in vitro model of tumor promotion. Nineteen dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes isolated from Euonymus species were evaluated for their ability to inhibit HCMV IE antigen expression in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. Five esters of penta- and hexahydroxydihydro-beta-agarofuran proved to be active components in these Euonymus species, inhibiting the IE antigen expression of HCMV. The highest activity was displayed by 2beta,6alpha,15-triacetoxy1beta-benzoyloxy-9alpha-nicotinoyloxydihydro-beta-agarofuran. These effective compounds may be regarded as prototypes of antitumor promoters, as secondary chemopreventive agents which can modify or halt tumor promotion in general.

• Authors: Rozália Pusztai, Judit Hohmann, Dora Rédei, Helga Engi, Joseph Molnár
• Journal: In vivo (Athens, Greece) (In Vivo) 2008 Nov-Dec Vol. 22 Issue 6 Pg. 787-92 ISSN: 0258-851X [Print] Greece
• PMID: 19181007 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Sesquiterpenes

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Line
• Cytomegalovirus (drug effects, genetics)
• Euonymus
• Gene Expression Regulation, Viral (drug effects)
• Genes, Immediate-Early (drug effects)
• Genes, Viral (drug effects)
• Humans
• Models, Molecular
• Sesquiterpenes (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)