Biopolymers and cell. Volume 20. № 4. 337-342.

M. V. Abdullaeva, A. F. Frolov, I. V. Alexeeva, L. I. Palchykovskaja, N. E. Fedorova

Inhibitory effect of 6-azacytidine on human cytomegalovirus infection in cellular system

Summary

Effects of a modified nucleoside analog 6-Azacytidine (2-b-D-ribofuranosyl-5-amino-1,2,4-triazin-3(2H)-one) on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in vitro, have been studied. 6-AZC inhibits the CMV cytopathic action, the effective dose of 6-AZC being 0.005 mg/ml. The analysis of cell viability, growth characteristics, and DNA synthesis has revealed that the cytotoxic effect of 6-AZC in human diploid fibroblasts is negligible. The cytotoxicity index range is 2.4 to 24 mg/ml when tested by different methods. The selectivity index of 6-AZC is 48-480, which differs negligibly from that of gancyclovir (100-1000), while the cytotoxicity of 6-AZC is essentially lower. The immunocytochemical analysis of virus proteins in the infected cells has shown that 6-AZC inhibits the production of late structural CMV protein gB, but does not influence the expression of early nonstructural protein pp72 and early protein p65.