title: Trichosanthin suppresses the elevation of p38 MAPK, and Bcl-2 induced by HSV-1 infection in Vero cells.
abstract: Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) effective against HIV-1 and HSV-1 replication. The mechanism of its antiviral activity is not clear. Many believe that it is related to ribosome inactivation. Some RIPs and viral infection affect the phosphorylation of MAPK and Bcl-2 and these proteins may be the common element linking RIP and viral infection. This study investigated the effect of HSV-1 infection on p38 MAPK and Bcl-2 as well as possible interference by TCS. Results showed that HSV-1 infection induced an elevation of phosphorylated p38 and Bcl-2 in Vero cells, which could be partially blocked by TCS. At the same time, both viral replication and host cells viability were lowered. Viral replication, Vero cell viability, p38 MAPK and Bcl-2 were further reduced with the addition of a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580). This suggested that TCS may interfere with MAPK and Bcl-2 signals generated by infection leading to inhibition of viral replication. In summary, our results demonstrated that HSV-1 infection in Vero cells induced an elevation of p38 MAPK and Bcl-2. TCS suppressed this rise and reduced viral replication. The MAPK family may play a role in the antiviral mechanism of TCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dong-Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Yong-Tang
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Siu-Cheung
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000378:metabolism*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D029778:Trichosanthes; D015978:Trichosanthin / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014709:Vero Cells; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011725:Pyridines; D015978:Trichosanthin; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580