Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis

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The effects and mechanisms of oxymatrine on anti- influenza A virus activity

CHEN Xiao-xuan,DAI Jian-ping*,WAN Qian-ying,ZHU Dan-xia,WANG Ge-fei,LI Kang-sheng   

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2013-12-25 Revised:2014-04-01 Online:2014-05-30 Published:2014-05-30

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and mechanisms of oxymatrine on anti-influenza A virus (IAV) activity. METHODS: MDCK and A549 cells were cultured and divided into 4 groups: blank control (DMSO, 0.5%), virus-treated group,positive group (ribavirin,200 μmol/L) and oxymatrine-treated group (12.5,25,50 and 100 μmol/L) ,with 6 repeats in each group. The anti-IAV activity of oxymatrine was determined by plaque inhibition assay. The influence of oxymatrine on the IAV-induced transcription of TLR4,MyD88 and TRAF6,the activation of TLR4-Myd88-TRAF6-NF-κB signal pathway,and the release of inflammatory cytokins were determined by luciferase reporter plasmid,Western blot and ELISA assays,respectively. RESULTS: Plaque inhibition assay showed that oxymatrine, at a range of 12.5-100 μmol/L,could significantly inhibit the replication of IAV in vitro,and its EC50 was 19.95 μmol/L. Luciferase reporter assay showed that oxymatrine,at the concentration of 12.5 μmol/L,could significantly inhibit the transcription of TLR4,MyD88 and TRAF6 induced by IAV infection (compared with virus-treated group,P < 0.05). Western blot assay showed that oxymatrine (12.5 μmol/L) could significantly inhibit the IAV-induced activation of TLR4-Myd88-TRAF6-NF-κB pathway (compared with virus-treated group,P<0.05). ELISA assay showed that oxymatrine (12.5 μmol/L) could significantly inhibit the IAV-induced release of inflammatory cytokins (compared with virus-treated group,P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oxymatrine possessed anti-IAV activity,and its mechanism may be related to its ability to inhibit the IAV-induced activation of TLR4-MyD88-TRAF6-NF-κB pathway.

Key words: oxymatrine, influenza A virus, TLR4 pathway, inflammatory cytokines