Verapamil inhibits influenza A virus replication

Arch Virol. 1984;81(1-2):163-70. doi: 10.1007/BF01309305.

Abstract

Calcium channel blockers reduce Ca++ flux through membrane channels and may inhibit intracellular Ca++-dependent synthetic and regulatory activities by binding to calmodulin. We have found that Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits influenza virus replication in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and in murine pulmonary macrophages and that this antiviral effect occurs with drug addition late in the replication cycle. Chlorpromazine, a drug which binds to calmodulin, also inhibited influenza virus replication in these tissue culture systems. We suggest that Verapamil and chlorpromazine inhibit influenza virus replication by interfering with calmodulin-dependent intracellular activities necessary for late synthetic steps or virus assembly steps and that calcium channel blockers provide a new probe for investigating influenza virus replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Replication / drug effects*
  • Dogs
  • Influenza A virus / drug effects
  • Influenza A virus / genetics*
  • Kidney
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Verapamil / toxicity*
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Verapamil