title: Curcumin inhibits human cytomegalovirus by downregulating heat shock protein 90.
abstract: Curcumin is a traditional Chinese medicine extracted from the rhizome of the herb Curcuma longa, which exhibits anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity, however, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. The present study reported that the pharmacogenomics of curcumin are similar to that of the antiviral drug, geldanamycin, which targets heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Comparative analysis of 3,000 clinical drugs demonstrated that curcumin had a positive association with the gene expression profiles of several drugs, among which the pharmacogenomics of the antiviral drug, geldanamycin, were most similar to that of curcumin. Molecular docking simulation analysis revealed that curcumin fit well in the binding pocket of Hsp90, with hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions and conjugation to maintain adhesion. Consistently, HCMV infection of human embryonic lung fibroblast cells resulted in increased expression of Hsp90α, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with curcumin. These findings suggested that targeting Hsp90 contributed to the anti‑HCMV activity of curcumin.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feifei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Hematology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuechun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Chao‑Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D062105:Molecular Docking Simulation
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D003474:Curcumin