Author:

Keywords:

Acyclovir, Antiviral Agents, Cell Line, DNA Replication, DNA, Viral, Ganciclovir, Gene Expression Regulation, Viral, Herpesvirus 4, Human, Humans, Molecular Structure, Nucleic Acid Hybridization, Nucleosides, Nucleotides, Phosphonic Acids, Purines, Virus Replication, Zidovudine, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Virology, Epstein-Barr virus, nucleoside analogues, LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS, INFECTIOUS-MONONUCLEOSIS, ACYCLOVIR, INVITRO, ANTIHERPESVIRUS, TRANSPLANTATION, DERIVATIVES, PROPHYLAXIS, GANCICLOVIR, INVIVO, Organophosphonates, 0304 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry, 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, 3404 Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry

Abstract:

The anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activity of different classes of compounds was assessed by means of an EBV DNA hybridization assay using a digoxigenin-labelled probe specific for the BamHI W fragment of the EBV genome, as well as by measuring viral capsid antigen (VCA) expression after a 7 day incubation period of P3HR-1 producer cells with the test substances. Acyclovir, ganciclovir, cidofovir and zidovudine were included as reference compounds. Several compounds proved to be potent and selective inhibitors of EBV DNA synthesis and VCA expression. Of the new compounds that were evaluated for their anti-EBV activity, the highest efficacy (lowest EC50) and highest selectivity index (SI) were shown by the purine nucleoside analogue 2-amino-7-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]purine (S2242) (EC50 0.6 ng/ml; SI 600), the acyclic nucleoside phosphonate analogues 9-(2-phosphono -methoxyethyl)-6-dimethylaminopurine (EC50 1.1 micrograms/ml; SI 91), 9-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl)-2- amino-6-benzhydrylaminopurine (EC50 1.3 micrograms/ml; SI 29), 7-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl)-6-dimethyl-aminopurine (EC50 0.8 microgram/ml; SI 56), 9-(R)-(2-phosphonomethoxypropyl)-6-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-aminopur ine (EC50 0.5 microgram/ml; SI 42), the 2',3'-dideoxythymidine derivative 3'-oximino-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (EC50 1.5 micrograms/ml; SI 65), and 1-(2,3- dideoxy-3-N-hydroxyamino-beta-D-threo-pentafuranyl)pentafuranos yl)thymine (EC50 4.1 micrograms/ml; SI > 24).