title: Protective effect of fluvastatin on influenza virus infection.
abstract: Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors and have pleiotropic effects. It has been suggested that statins may be a potential treatment during the next influenza pandemic. In a previous study we found that a statin/caffeine combination protects BALB/c mice against Influenza A, subtypes haemagglutinin type 5 and neuraminidase type 1 (H5N1), H3N2 and H1N1 infection. The effect of statins alone on influenza virus infection, however, is not known. In this study, it was investigated whether fluvastatin is capable of inhibiting influenza A virus replication in vitro. The results demonstrated that the synthesis of viral RNA and protein was affected by fluvastatin treatment. Virus production was markedly reduced when fluvastatin was administered simultaneously with the virus; however, a greater inhibition was observed when fluvastatin was added following viral adsorption. The selectivity index [SI; 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50)/50% inhibition concentration (IC50)], however, was only 21. It was further demonstrated that fluvastatin protects host cells against influenza-induced inflammation by reducing the production of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 8 and interferon γ. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that fluvastatin exerted a minor inhibitory effect on influenza virus infection, which involved anti-inflammatory activities.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, State Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control Research, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, State Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control Research, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dingmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, State Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control Research, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Haizhu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510288, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guoling
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Experimental Animal Center, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhongmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, State Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control Research, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiahai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007211:Indoles; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000077340:Fluvastatin