title: Growth inhibition of herpes simplex virus-type 1 in calphostin C-treated astrocytes.
abstract: The aim was to evaluate the effects of calphostin C (CC), a protein kinase C inhibitor, on lytic herpes simplex virus-type 1 infection of cultured rat astrocytes. At 24 h postinjection, the cell culture receiving CC treatment at 50 nM concentration showed decreased cell detachment and retraction versus untreated infected controls; likewise, the infective virus yield was significantly lower in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, image analysis failed to disclose differences in viral antigen immunolabeling at low drug concentrations thus suggesting that CC-induced inhibition of cytopathic effects and infectivity taken place through mechanisms not involving viral protein synthesis. Given the low dose required and the apparent lack of cytotoxic effects, present findings encourage additional studies on CC antiviral potential in the whole organism.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Castagnino
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yakisich
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Berría
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Idoyaga-Vargas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000821:virology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011493:Protein Kinase C; C058819:calphostin C