Author/Authors :
Fondjo Kouam, Arnaud Department of Biomedical Sciences - Faculty of Health Sciences - University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon - Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology - Department of Biochemistry - Faculty of Science - University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon - CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology - Institute of Microbiology - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China , Nico Njayou, Frédéric Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology - Department of Biochemistry - Faculty of Science - University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon , Yuan, Fei CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology - Institute of Microbiology - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China , Olawale Oladejo, Babayemi Department of Microbiology - Federal University of Technology - P.M.B 704 - Akure - Ondo State, Nigeria , Hongtao, He CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology - Institute of Microbiology - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China , Mkounga, Pierre Department of Organic Chemistry - Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Phytochemistry - University of Yaoundé 1 - PO Box 812 - Yaoundé, Cameroon , Fewou Moundipa, Paul Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology - Department of Biochemistry - Faculty of Science - University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Abstract :
Objective: A fraction from Khaya grandifoliola has recently been shown to inhibit hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and three limonoids (17-epi-methyl-6-hydroxylangolensate, 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin and 7-deacetoxy-7R-hydroxygedunin) were purified from this fraction. The present study aimed at assessing the inhibitory effect of these limonoids on HCV using cell-culture derived HCV (HCVcc) system.
Materials and Methods: Cytotoxic effects of the limonoids on Huh7.5 cells were assessed by MTT assay. Huh7.5 cells were transfected with RNA transcripts of the plasmid Jc1/GLuc2a, carrying a Gaussia luciferase reporter gene to rescue the HCVcc particles which were used to infect naïve cells in the presence or absence of the studied limonoids during 72 hr. Infection and replication rates were monitored by luciferase reporter assay and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) while cellular gene expression was analyzed by western blot, respectively.
Results: The limonoids inhibited HCV infection mostly by targeting entry and replication stage. Their inhibitory effect on entry step, comparable to that of anti-CD81 antibody, was related to the blocking of CD81 receptor. In the replication step, the limonoids decreased the expression of NS5B similar to danoprevir. These compounds also significantly decreased but up-regulated the expression of Class-III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase alpha and 2’,5’-oligoadenylate synthase-3, respectively.
Conclusion: The present findings suggest that limonoids from K. grandifoliola are potential anti-HCV agents and may offer an advantage in the treatment of HCV infection.
Keywords :
Khaya grandifoliola , Limonoids , Anti-HCV infection , Class III phosphatidylinositol , 4-kinase alpha , 2’, 5’- oligoadenylate synthase-3
