[Pentapeptides prevent enterovirus 71 proliferation in rhabdomyosarcoma cells and mice]

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the main causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). This article presented the inhibitory activity of pentapeptides on the EV71 infection in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) and suckling mice. The EV71 VP1 capsid protein expression levels and mRNA levels were analyzed by Western blotting and real-time PCR. The antiviral activity of pentapeptides in vivo was evaluated by weight changes and EV71 VP1 protein expression levels in intestines of suckling mice. Results revealed that the pentapeptide P010157 was able to inhibit EV71 replication in RD cells. After being incubated with the P010157 at a concentration of 100 microg x mL(-1) for 48 h, the level of EV71 vp1 mRNA in RD cells decreased by (92.0 +/- 6.3)%. The estimated EC50 was 2.2 microg x mL(-1). P010157 was able to inhibit EV 71-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in RD cells. The cytotoxic activity of the compound was evaluated against RD cells by MTS assay. The results showed that P010157 had no obvious toxicity. In addition, the treated mice with P010157 did not exhibit weight loss, as was observed in untreated mice. EV71 replication reduced significantly as revealed by Western blotting. These findings suggest that P010157 could prevent EV71 proliferation in vitro and in vivo. P010157 is a novel compound for antiviral therapies against EV71, which merited further investigation.