title: Safety concerns for the potential use of cyanovirin-N as a microbicidal anti-HIV agent.
abstract: Based on its antiviral activity profile, cyanovirin-N (CV-N) holds great potential for anti-HIV microbicidal application. However, limited data are available on the possible side-effects of this lectin. A detailed investigation was carried out to obtain better insights in the cytotoxic, inflammatory and (anti)-proliferative properties of CV-N in comparison with several other plant-derived lectins. CV-N affected the cell morphology of PBMCs and enhanced the expression of the cellular activation markers CD25, CD69 and HLA-DR. PBMCs activated by CV-N were more susceptible for R5 HIV-1 infection. In addition, CV-N exerted a pronounced mitogenic activity and significantly enhanced in PBMCs the production of a wide variety of cytokines, as determined by the Bio-Plex human cytokine 27-plex array system. In comparison, other lectins obtained from Hippeastrum hybrid, Galanthus nivalis, and Urtica dioica induced markedly less, if any, stimulatory effects. So, the use of CV-N may be accompanied by various stimulatory effects that may compromise its application for microbicidal use.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. dana.huskens@rega.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huskens
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vermeire
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vandemeulebroucke
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balzarini
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schols
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006678:HIV / Q000378:metabolism*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; C107733:cyanovirin N