Hsp90 inhibitors reduce influenza virus replication in cell culture.
The viral RNA polymerase complex of influenza A virus consists of three subunits PB1, PB2 and PA. Recently, the cellular chaperone Hsp90 was shown to play a role in nuclear import and assembly of the trimeric polymerase complex by binding to PB1 and PB2. Here we show that Hsp90 inhibitors, geldanamycin or its derivative 17-AAG, delay the growth of influenza virus in cell culture resulting in a 1-2 log reduction in viral titre early in infection. We suggest that this is caused by the reduced half-life of PB1 and PB2 and inhibition of nuclear import of PB1 and PA which lead to reduction in viral RNP assembly. Hsp90 inhibitors may represent a new class of antiviral compounds against influenza viruses.
Department of Virology, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Geoffrey
G
Chase
Tao
T
Deng
Ervin
E
Fodor
Bo Wah
BW
Leung
Daniel
D
Mayer
Martin
M
Schwemmle
George
G
Brownlee
D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019065:Virus Assembly; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D016227:Benzoquinones; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic; C057027:PB2 protein, Influenzavirus A; D014764:Viral Proteins; C077346:influenza virus polymerase basic protein 1; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; C001277:geldanamycin