Retrocyclin 2: a new therapy against avian influenza H5N1 virus in vivo and vitro.
We tested the ability of retrocyclin 2, a type of theta defensin, to protect cells and chicken embryos from infection by H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. A gene fragment of retrocyclin 2 was designed based on the protein sequence of retrocyclin 2 and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA4.01 (HismaxA), named pcDNA4-RC2. The expression vector pcDNA4-RC2 protected MDCK cells and chicken embryos from infection by the H5N1 virus through inhibition of virus replication and viral mRNA transcription. Retrocyclin 2 is therefore effective in preventing H5N1 virus infection in vivo and in vitro and could be considered as a new therapy for H5N1 influenza and other diseases.
Liang
Qing-long
QL
National Research Center for Wildlife Born Diseases, Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
Zhou
Kai
K
He
Hong-xuan
HX
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology*; D023082:Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000502:physiology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000628:therapy*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
D023082:Defensins