The main green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate counteracts semen-mediated enhancement of HIV infection.
Peptide fragments, derived from prostatic acidic phosphatase, are secreted in large amounts into human semen and form amyloid fibrils. These fibrillar structures, termed semen-derived enhancer of virus infection (SEVI), capture HIV virions and direct them to target cells. Thus, SEVI appears to be an important infectivity factor of HIV during sexual transmission. Here, we are able to demonstrate that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major active constituent of green tea, targets SEVI for degradation. Furthermore, it is shown that EGCG inhibits SEVI activity and abrogates semen-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection in the absence of cellular toxicity. Therefore, EGCG appears to be a promising supplement to antiretroviral microbicides to reduce sexual transmission of HIV-1.
Hauber
Ilona
I
Heinrich-Pette-Institute for Experimental Virology and Immunology, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany. ilona.hauber@hpi.unihamburg.de
Hohenberg
Heinrich
H
Holstermann
Barbara
B
Hunstein
Werner
W
Hauber
Joachim
J
D000682:Amyloid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology
D000682:Amyloid; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; C526435:prostatic acid phosphatase (248-286), human; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases