Anti-herpes Activity of Vinegar-processed Daphne genkwa Flos Via Enhancement of Natural Killer Cell Activity.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common causative agent of genital ulceration and can lead to subsequent neurological disease in some cases. Here, using a genital infection model, we tested the efficacy of vinegar-processed flos of Daphne genkwa (vp-genkwa) to modulate vaginal inflammation caused by HSV-1 infection. Our data revealed that treatment with optimal doses of vp-genkwa after, but not before, HSV-1 infection provided enhanced resistance against HSV-1 infection, as corroborated by reduced mortality and clinical signs. Consistent with these results, treatment with vp-genkwa after HSV-1 infection reduced viral replication in the vaginal tract. Furthermore, somewhat intriguingly, treatment of vp-genkwa after HSV-1 infection increased the frequency and absolute number of CD3(-)NK1.1(+)NKp46(+) natural killer (NK) cells producing interferon (IFN)-γ and granyzme B, which indicates that vp-genkwa treatment induces the activation of NK cells. Supportively, secreted IFN-γ was detected at an increased level in vaginal lavages of mice treated with vp-genkwa after HSV-1 infection. These results indicate that enhanced resistance to HSV-1 infection by treatment with vp-genkwa is associated with NK cell activation. Therefore, our data provide a valuable insight into the use of vp-genkwa to control clinical severity in HSV infection through NK cell activation.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-Safety Research Institute, Specialized Campus, Chonbuk National University, Iksan 570-752, Korea.
Erdenebileg
E
Uyangaa
College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-Safety Research Institute, Specialized Campus, Chonbuk National University, Iksan 570-752, Korea.
Jin Young
JY
Choi
Natural Medicine Research Center, KRIBB, Chungbuk 363-883, Korea.
Hyung Won
HW
Ryu
Natural Medicine Research Center, KRIBB, Chungbuk 363-883, Korea.
Sei-Ryang
SR
Oh
College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-Safety Research Institute, Specialized Campus, Chonbuk National University, Iksan 570-752, Korea. ; Department of Bioactive Materials Sciences, Graduate School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
Seong Kug
SK
Eo
Daphne genkwa; Genital infection; Herpes simplex virus; NK cells; Vinegar-processed flos