Effect of ultrasound on herpes simplex virus infection in cell culture.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ultrasound has been shown to increase the efficiency of gene expression from retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses. The effect of ultrasound to stimulate cell membrane permeabilization on infection with an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was examined.

RESULTS:

Vero monkey kidney cells were infected with HSV-1 and exposed to 1 MHz ultrasound after an adsorption period. The number of plaques was significantly greater than that of the untreated control. A combination of ultrasound and microbubbles further increased the plaque number. Similar results were obtained using a different type of HSV-1 and oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. The appropriate intensity, duty cycle and time of ultrasound to increase the plaque number were 0.5 W/cm², 20% duty cycle and 10 sec, respectively. Ultrasound with microbubbles at an intensity of 2.0 W/cm², at 50% duty cycle, or for 40 sec reduced cell viability.

CONCLUSION:

These results indicate that ultrasound promotes the entry of oncolytic HSV-1 into cells. It may be useful to enhance the efficiency of HSV-1 infection in oncolytic virotherapy.

• Authors: Motoko Shintani, Gen Takahashi, Masakazu Hamada, Shyusuke Okunaga, Soichi Iwai, Yoshiaki Yura
• Journal: Virology journal (Virol J) Vol. 8 Pg. 446 (Sep 22 2011) ISSN: 1743-422X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21939524 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Animals
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (pathology, therapy)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects, radiation effects)
• Chlorocebus aethiops
• Herpes Simplex (virology)
• Herpesvirus 1, Human (physiology)
• Mice
• Microbubbles (therapeutic use)
• Mouth Neoplasms (pathology, therapy)
• Oncolytic Virotherapy (methods)
• Sound
• Vero Cells
• Viral Plaque Assay
• Virus Replication (drug effects, radiation effects)