Alpha-momorcharin inhibits HIV-1 replication in acutely but not chronically infected T-lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activities of alpha-momorcharin (alpha-MMC) from Momordica charantia in acutely and chronically infected T-lymphocytes.


METHODS
The anti-HIV activities of alpha-MMC were examined by 1) the inhibition of syncytia formation induced by HIV-1 III B; 2) reduction of p24 core antigen expression level and decrease in numbers of HIV antigen positive cells in acutely and chronically infected cultures. The cytotoxic effects of alpha-MMC was tested by trypan blue dye exclusion or colorimetric MTT assay.


RESULTS
alpha-MMC was found to obviously inhibit HIV-1 III B-inducing C8166 syncytia formation and markedly reduced both expression of p24 core antigen and the numbers of HIV antigen positive cells in acutely but not chronically HIV-1-infected culture. The median effective concentration (EC50) in these assays were 0.016, 0.07, and 0.32 mg.L-1, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
alpha-MMC is a unique component of momorcharin with anti-HIV activity, and markedly inhibited HIV-1 replication in acutely but not chronically HIV-1-infected T-lymphocytes.
Zheng
Y T
YT
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. zhengyt@mail.kiz.ac.cn
Ben
K L
KL
Jin
S W
SW
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; C039582:MMC protein, Momordica charantia; D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins