ABSTRACT
Here, we report a convenient synthetic procedure for the preparation of four novel indanyl carbanucleoside derivatives in the racemic form. The action of these compounds against hepatitis C virus was evaluated in vitro using the replicon cell line, Huh7.5 SG. Contrary to our expectations, all these compounds did not inhibit, but rather promoted HCV genotype 1b (HCVg1b) replication. Similar effects have been reported for morphine in the replicon cell lines, Huh7 and Huh8. Several biological experiments and computational studies were performed to elucidate the effect of these compounds on HCVg1b replication. Based on all the experiments performed, we propose that the increase in HCVg1b replication could be mediated, at least in part, by a similar mechanism to that of morphine on the enhancement of this replication. The presence of opioid receptors in Huh7.5 SG cells was indirectly determined for the first time in this work.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/chemical synthesis , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Hepacivirus/drug effects , Hepacivirus/physiology , Nucleosides/chemical synthesis , Nucleosides/pharmacology , Virus Replication/drug effects , Antiviral Agents/chemistry , Cell Culture Techniques , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Hepatitis C/virology , Humans , Models, Molecular , Molecular Conformation , Molecular Structure , Nucleosides/analogs & derivativesABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants may either emerge in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) as a result of positive selection pressure exerted by their own immune response, or during therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). Naturally occurring HBV variants with primary antiviral resistance are rarely observed. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the (eventual) circulation of HBV variants with natural resistance to NAs currently used as therapy for CHB in Argentina. This study reports 13 cases of CHB-infected patients with natural antiviral resistance to at least one NA. Five of them were also carriers of S-variants that might escape the humoral immune system recognition with potential resistance to adefovir. In addition to the already reported A2 HBV subgenotype association to NAs natural resistance, E and F genotypes association to such resistance is described for the first time. These findings suggest that sequence analysis of the HBV reverse transcriptase might be an essential tool before starting antiviral therapy, in order to choose the proper NAs for optimizing the therapeutic management of chronically infected patients. Moreover, the circulation and transmission of S-mutants with resistance to such antiviral drugs should be of public health concern as they may represent an additional risk for the community.