Propranolol suppresses reactivation of herpesvirus.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) reactivates from the nervous system and causes recurrent disease in end organs such as the eye and the lips. We found that the beta-adrenergic receptor blocker, propranolol, reduces HSV-1 reactivation in an animal model. Mice latent for McKrae strain HSV-1 were injected with propranolol or saline once a day for 3 successive days, and subjected to a brief period of hyperthermia on the second day to induce reactivation. Twenty-four hours after the third injection, swabs of the ocular surface and homogenates of the corneas and trigeminal ganglia were analyzed for the presence of infectious virus and viral DNA. Treatment with propranolol significantly decreased the appearance of infectious virus in the tear film, cornea, and trigeminal ganglia (P < 0.05, chi 2-test). The results suggest a possible new pharmacologic approach to suppressing herpesvirus reactivation in the nervous system and thereby preventing recurrent disease.
LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans 70112, USA.
B M
BM
Gebhardt
H E
HE
Kaufman
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000821:virology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011433:Propranolol