title: l-carbocisteine inhibits respiratory syncytial virus infection in human tracheal epithelial cells.
abstract: To examine the effects of l-carbocisteine on airway infection with respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, human tracheal epithelial cells were pretreated with l-carbocisteine and infected with RS virus. Viral titer, virus RNA, and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, including interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6, increased with time after infection. l-carbocisteine reduced the viral titer in the supernatant fluids, the amount of RS virus RNA, RS virus infection susceptibility, and the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by virus infection. l-carbocisteine reduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, an RS virus receptor, on the cells. However, l-carbocisteine had no effects on the expression of heparan sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan that binds to the RS virus attachment protein, or on the amount of intracellular activated-RhoA, isoform A of the Ras-homologous family, that binds to the RS virus fusion protein. These findings suggest that l-carbocisteine may inhibit RS virus infection by reducing the expression of ICAM-1. It may also modulate airway inflammation during RS virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Sendai City Hospital, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yukimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hatachi
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagatomi
authors.forename: Mutsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaya
mesh_terms: D002233:Carbocysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology*; D005100:Expectorants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005100:Expectorants; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002233:Carbocysteine