Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus IE gene expression by dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes isolated from Euonymus species

• Published in: In vivo (Athens) Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 787 - 792
• Main Authors: Pusztai, Rozália, Hohmann, Judit, Rédei, Dora, Engi, Helga, Molnár, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Cell Line; Cytomegalovirus - drug effects; Cytomegalovirus - genetics; Euonymus; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral - drug effects; Genes, Immediate-Early - drug effects; Genes, Viral - drug effects; Humans; Models, Molecular; Sesquiterpenes - chemistry; Sesquiterpenes - isolation & purification; Sesquiterpenes - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0258-851X

The development of strategies intended to inhibit human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early (IE) antigen expression is an important goal in research designed to prevent and treat certain forms of cancer. The aim of this study was to identify potent IE antigen-targeting natural compounds as antitumor promoters in an in vitro model of tumor promotion. Nineteen dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes isolated from Euonymus species were evaluated for their ability to inhibit HCMV IE antigen expression in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. Five esters of penta- and hexahydroxydihydro-beta-agarofuran proved to be active components in these Euonymus species, inhibiting the IE antigen expression of HCMV. The highest activity was displayed by 2beta,6alpha,15-triacetoxy1beta-benzoyloxy-9alpha-nicotinoyloxydihydro-beta-agarofuran. These effective compounds may be regarded as prototypes of antitumor promoters, as secondary chemopreventive agents which can modify or halt tumor promotion in general.