Amidic derivatives of valproic acid, valpromide and valnoctamide, inhibit HSV-1 infection in oligodendrocytes

Publication date: Available online 25 May 2019Source: Antiviral ResearchAuthor(s): B. Praena, R. Bello-Morales, F. de Castro, J.A. López-GuerreroAbstractHerpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous infectious agent that can establish latency in neurons, and in some cases, viral retrograde transport results in infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Several antivirals have been identified with the ability to inhibit HSV-1 replication in human cells to a greater or lesser degree, most of which are nucleoside analogues that unfortunately exhibit teratogenic potential, embryotoxicity, carcinogenic or antiproliferative activities and resistances in immunocompromised patients, specially. In the present study, we assessed two amidic derivatives of valproic acid (VPA) – valpromide (VPD) and valnoctamide (VCD) – which are already used in clinic treatments, as feasible HSV-1 antivirals in glial cells. Both VPD and VCD have exhibited increased efficacy in bipolar disorders and as anticonvulsant drugs compared to VPA, while being less teratogenic and hepatotoxic. Cytotoxicity assays carried out in our laboratory showed that VPD and VCD were not toxic in a human oligodendroglioma cell line (HOG), at least at the concentrations established for human treatments. Infectivity assays showed a significant inhibition of HSV-1 infection in HOG cells after VPD and VCD treatment, being more pronounced in VPD-treated cells, comparable to the effects obtained with acyclovir. Furthe...
Source: Antiviral Therapy - Category: Virology Source Type: research