Fuchsin acid selectively inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in vitro

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 155; no. 3; pp. 1404 - 1411
• Main Authors: Baba, Masanori, Schols, Dominique, Pauwels, Rudi, Balzarini, Jan, De Clercq, Erik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 30.09.1988; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; human immunodeficiency virus 1; human immunodeficiency virus 2; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - drug effects; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - physiology; Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 - drug effects; Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 - physiology; Microbiology; Rosaniline Dyes - pharmacology; Virology; Virus Replication - drug effects; Human; Cell culture; Dyes; Molecular structure; Cytotoxicity; In vitro; Biological activity; Virus; Cell line; DNA polymerase RNA-dependent; T-Lymphocyte; Replication; Inhibition
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-291X(88)81297-X

Fuchsin acid, an anionic dye, is a selective inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) in vitro. Its 50 % effective dose for inhibition of HIV-1-induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells and HIV-1 antigen expression in HUT-78 cells is 42 and 16 μM, respectively. These values are comparable to those of suramin, the first compound shown to be a selective inhibitor of HIV-1. However, fuchsin acid is less cytotoxic than suramin. The selectivity index of fuchsin acid, based on the ratio of the 50 % cytotoxic dose to the 50 % effective dose, is > 74 in MT-4 cells and > 39 in HUT-78 cells. Fuchsin acid is a much weaker inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase than are suramin and aurintricarboxylic acid. Fuchsin acid does not interfere with the adsorption of HIV-1 particles to MT-4 cells even at concentrations that completely block HIV-1 replication in MT-4 cells. The mechanism of action of fuchsin acid remains subject of further study.