Inhibition of endogenous reverse transcription of human and nonhuman primate lentiviruses: potential for development of lentivirucides

Virology. 2006 Sep 30;353(2):482-90. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2006.06.014. Epub 2006 Jul 21.

Abstract

In the current study, we extended our previous works on natural endogenous reverse transcription (NERT) and further examined its potential as a virucide molecular target in sexual transmission of primate lentiviruses. HIV-1 and SIV virions were pretreated with select nucleoside (NRTIs) and nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs), either alone or in combination with NERT-stimulating substances. The effects of these antiretrovirals on virion inactivation were analyzed in human T cell lines and primary cell cultures. Pretreatment of HIV-1 virions with physiologic NERT-stimulants and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate (AZT-TP) or nevirapine potently inactivated cell-free HIV-1 virions and resulted in strong inhibition of the viral infectivity. Pretreatment of chimeric SHIV-RT virions with NERT-stimulating cocktail and select antiretrovirals also resulted in virion inactivation and inhibition of viral infectivity in T cell lines. Our findings demonstrate the potential clinical utility of approaches based on inhibiting NERT in sexual transmission of HIV-1, through the development of effective anti-HIV-1 microbicides, such as NRTIs and NNRTIs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dideoxynucleotides
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Lentivirus Infections / transmission
  • Nevirapine / pharmacology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / drug effects*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Thymine Nucleotides / pharmacology*
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects*
  • Zidovudine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Zidovudine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Dideoxynucleotides
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Thymine Nucleotides
  • Zidovudine
  • zidovudine triphosphate
  • Nevirapine