title: Inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 blocks human cytomegalovirus replication.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) mRNA, protein, and activity are transiently induced after infection of human fibroblasts with human cytomegalovirus. Prostaglandin E(2), the product of COX-2 activity, is transiently increased by a factor of >50 in cultures of virus-infected fibroblasts. Both specific (BMS-279652, 279654, and 279655) and nonspecific (indomethacin) COX-2 inhibitors can abrogate the virus-mediated induction of prostaglandin E(2) accumulation. Levels of COX-2 inhibitors that completely block the induction of COX-2 activity, but do not compromise cell viability, reduce the yield of human cytomegalovirus in human fibroblasts by a factor of >100. Importantly, the yield of infectious virus can be substantially restored by the addition of prostaglandin E(2) together with the inhibitory drug. This finding argues that elevated levels of prostaglandin E(2) are required for efficient replication of human cytomegalovirus in fibroblasts. COX-2 inhibitors block the accumulation of immediate-early 2 mRNA and protein, but have little effect on the levels of immediate-early 1 mRNA and protein. Viral DNA replication and the accumulation of some, but not all, early and late mRNAs are substantially blocked by COX-2 inhibitors. Elevated levels of prostaglandin E(2) apparently facilitate the production of immediate-early 2 protein. The failure to produce normal levels of this critical viral regulatory protein in the presence of COX-2 inhibitors might block normal progression beyond the immediate-early phase of human cytomegalovirus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wade A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bresnahan
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Shenk
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone