title: Enhancement of the antiviral activity of poly r(A-U) by ametantrone and mitoxantrone.
abstract: The role of ametantrone (HAQ) and mitoxantrone (DHAQ) in modulating the antiviral and interferon-inducing activities of poly r(A-U) was examined using the human foreskin fibroblast-vesicular stomatitis virus (HSF-VSV) bioassay system in which the concentration of poly r(A-U) was fixed at 0.05 mM or 0.2 mM while the HAQ or DHAQ concentration was varied to produce variable HAQ (or DHAQ)/ribonucleotide ratios ranging from 1:16 to 2:1. HAQ, DHAQ and poly r(A-U) tested individually were not efficacious antiviral agents. When poly r(A-U) was combined with the ametantrone or mitoxantrone the antiviral activity was potentiated 10-fold at HAQ (or DHAQ)/ribonucleotide ratios in the region of 1/4 to 1/6. The interferon-inducing activity of the HAQ (or DHAQ)/poly r(A-U) combinations were equal to the sum of the interferon-inducing activity of the poly r(A-U) and the HAQ (or DHAQ). These results indicate that the HAQ and DHAQ potentiate the antiviral activity of the poly r(A-U) without the superinduction of interferon. The direct viral inactivation study demonstrated that HAQ, DHAQ, poly r(A-U) and the HAQ (or DHAQ)/poly r(A-U) combinations did not inactivate the VSV at concentrations near the viral 50% inhibitory dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, Ohio 44242.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jamison
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krabill
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Flowers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004256:DNA Polymerase I / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011063:Poly A-U / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011066:Poly C / Q000494:pharmacology; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011063:Poly A-U; D011066:Poly C; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D004256:DNA Polymerase I; C020182:ametantrone