Ephedrae herba, a component of Japanese herbal medicine Mao-to, efficiently activates the replication of latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in a monocytic cell line.
The persistence of latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected cellular reservoirs, despite prolonged treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), represents a major hurdle to virus eradication. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Japanese herbal medicine on the induction of HIV-1 replication in latently infected monocytic cell line, U1, in order to eradicate virus efficiently. We found that Mao-to was able to induce HIV-1 replication either alone or in combination with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Among the four components of Mao-to, only Ephedrae herba had strong effects in inducing HIV-1 replication. Analysis by Western blotting revealed that Ephedrae herba induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). Reporter assay data also showed that Ephedrae herba and, slightly, Mao-to activated the NF-kappaB promoter, indicating that these herbal agents may induce HIV-1 replication through NF-kappaB activation. These findings suggest that Mao-to and its component, Ephedrea herba, may be good candidates to augment HAART by inducing the expression of latent HIV-1 with the ultimate goal of eliminating persistent viral reservoirs in individuals infected with HIV-1.
Murakami
Toru
T
Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Global COE Cell Fate Regulation Research and Education Unit, Kumamoto University, Japan.
Harada
Hideki
H
Suico
Mary Ann
MA
Shuto
Tsuyoshi
T
Suzu
Shinya
S
Kai
Hirofumi
H
Okada
Seiji
S
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D029789:Ephedra / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C493483:Mao-to; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008156:Luciferases