Aloperine inhibits hepatitis C virus entry into cells by disturbing internalisation from endocytosis to the membrane fusion process.

Abstract

Aloperine, a natural alkaloid isolated from the Chinese traditional herb Sophora alopecuroides, is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent with anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we found that aloperine effectively inhibited hepatitis C virus (HCV) propagation in Huh7.5 cells and primary human hepatocytes without cytotoxicity, and it blocked HCV cell-to-cell viral transmission. The antiviral mechanism evidence demonstrated that aloperine inhibits HCV internalisation from endocytosis to the membrane fusion process, and the target may be associated with host factors. Aloperine additively inhibited HCV propagation with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and was effective against HCV variants resistant to known DAAs. Therefore, aloperine might be a natural lead compound for the development of innovative antivirals, and the combined use of aloperine with DAAs might contribute to eliminating liver diseases caused by HCV infection.

• Authors: Xiao-Qin Lv, Li-Li Zou, Jia-Li Tan, Hu Li, Jian-Rui Li, Nan-Nan Liu, Biao Dong, Dan-Qing Song, Zong-Gen Peng
• Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol) Vol. 883 Pg. 173323 (Sep 15 2020) ISSN: 1879-0712 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 32622669 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Piperidines
• Quinolizidines
• aloperine

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Line
• Endocytosis (drug effects)
• Hepacivirus (drug effects, genetics, pathogenicity)
• Hepatitis C (drug therapy, transmission, virology)
• Hepatocytes (drug effects, virology)
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Humans
• Membrane Fusion (drug effects)
• Piperidines (pharmacology)
• Quinolizidines
• Virus Internalization (drug effects)
• Virus Replication (drug effects)