title: Different anti-HCV profiles of statins and their potential for combination therapy with interferon.
abstract: We recently developed a genome-length hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication system (OR6) with luciferase as a reporter. The OR6 assay system has enabled prompt and precise quantification of HCV RNA replication. Pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy is the world standard for chronic hepatitis C, but its effectiveness is limited to about 55% of patients. Newer therapeutic approaches are needed. In the present study, we used the OR6 assay system to evaluate the anti-HCV activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, called statins, and their effects in combination with IFN-alpha. Five types of statins (atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin) were examined for their anti-HCV activities. Fluvastatin exhibited the strongest anti-HCV activity (IC50: 0.9 micromol/L), whereas atorvastatin and simvastatin showed moderate inhibitory effects. However, lovastatin, reported recently as an inhibitor of HCV replication, was shown to exhibit the weakest anti-HCV activity. The anti-HCV activities of statins were reversed by the addition of mevalonate or geranylgeraniol. Surprisingly, however, pravastatin exhibited no anti-HCV activity, although it worked as an inhibitor for HMG-CoA reductase. The combination of IFN and the statins (except for pravastatin) exhibited strong inhibitory effects on HCV RNA replication. In combination with IFN, fluvastatin also exhibited a synergistic inhibitory effect. In conclusion, statins, especially fluvastatin, could be potentially useful as new anti-HCV reagents in combination with IFN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dansako
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naka
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000077340:Fluvastatin