Cystatin C, a human proteinase inhibitor, blocks replication of herpes simplex virus

J Virol. 1990 Feb;64(2):941-3. doi: 10.1128/JVI.64.2.941-943.1990.

Abstract

Cystatin C is a human cysteine proteinase inhibitor present in extracellular fluids. Cystatin C and a tripeptide derivative (Z-LVG-CHN2) that mimics its proteinase-binding center, were tested for possible antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) and poliovirus type 1. Both recombinant cystatin C and Z-LVG-CHN2 displayed strong inhibitory effects on HSV replication, whereas no significant effect on poliovirus replication was seen. The molar concentration of cystatin C that gave total inhibition of HSV replication was lower than that of either Z-LVG-CHN2 or of acyclovir, the drug currently most used against HSV infections. These results suggest that cysteine proteinase inhibitors might play a physiological role as inhibitors of viral replication and that such proteinase inhibitors, or peptide derivatives that mimic their proteinase-binding centers, might be used as antiviral agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Cystatin C
  • Cystatins / pharmacology*
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Simplexvirus / drug effects*
  • Simplexvirus / growth & development
  • Simplexvirus / physiology
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • CST3 protein, human
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins
  • Cystatin C
  • Cystatins
  • Oligopeptides
  • N-benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-valyl-glycine diazomethane