ABSTRACT
Curcumin (Cur), a polyphenolic compound extracted from spice and common food colourant turmeric, contains versatile bio-activities. Monoacetylcurcumin (MAC), a structural analogue of Cur, differs from Cur by acetyl modification, but retains enone groups. Comparative analysis revealed MAC effectively inhibited influenza virus infection (IAV) to a similar extent as, if not superior to, curcumin. Both compounds mildly reduced viral NA activity. Surprisingly, unlike Cur, the MAC inhibition of IAV did not occur through the blocking of HA activity. However, MAC strongly dampened Akt phosphorylation, the prerequisite signalling for efficient IAV propagation. A much stronger inhibition effect on IAV infection was observed when MAC treatment was in combination with Cur. Collectively, MAC demonstrated clear antiviral activity, and likely inhibited IAV via multiple mechanisms that were not identical to Cur. Importantly, Cur and MAC in combination synergistically inhibited IAV infection.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Curcumin/analogs & derivatives , Curcumin/pharmacology , Influenza A virus/drug effects , Influenza, Human/virology , Animals , Antiviral Agents/chemistry , Curcumin/chemistry , Dogs , Drug Synergism , Humans , Influenza A virus/genetics , Influenza A virus/physiology , Influenza, Human/drug therapy , Influenza, Human/genetics , Influenza, Human/metabolism , Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells , Phosphorylation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Virus Replication/drug effectsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether white blood cell (WBC) level mediated the relationship between physical activity and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. METHOD: Data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used; 1,726 U.S. adult men (aged 40 years or older) provided complete data on the study variables. Participants wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer for a 7-day period to measure their physical activity behavior, and PSA and WBC levels were obtained from a blood sample. RESULTS: After adjustments, results showed that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was inversely associated with WBC count (b = - .03; 95% CI [ - 0.04, - 0.006; p = .01), and WBC count (b = .10; 95% CI [0.009, 0.18; p = .04) was positively associated with PSA. Both the Sobel (coef. = - .004, SE = .002; z = - 2.0; p = .03) and the Aroian (coef. = - .004, SE = .002; z = - 1.9; p = .03) tests demonstrated that WBC mediated the relationship between physical activity and PSA. Additionally, among 107 participants with prostate cancer, survivors engaging in more MVPA had lower levels of WBC (b = - .04; 95% CI [ - 0.09, - 0.0009; p = .04). Conclusion Physical activity may influence PSA levels through WBC modulation; however, future research is needed to determine the direction of causality. Additionally, prostate cancer survivors engaging in higher levels of MVPA had lower levels of WBC, underscoring the importance of promoting physical activity among prostate cancer survivors.
Subject(s)
Leukocyte Count , Motor Activity , Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood , Accelerometry/instrumentation , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prostatic Neoplasms/blood , SurvivorsABSTRACT
Primary cultures of rat and mouse sensory neurons were used to study the entry of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Soluble, truncated nectin-1 but not HveA prevented viral entry. Antibodies against nectin-1 also blocked infection of rat neurons. These results indicate that nectin-1 is the primary receptor for HSV-1 infection of sensory neurons.
