Curcumin and beta-lapachone inhibit HIV virus replication. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Three inhibitors of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat-directed gene expression and virus replication.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Mar 1;90(5):1839-42. PMID: 8446597
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Transcription of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) provirus is governed by the viral long terminal repeat (LTR). Drugs can block HIV-1 replication by inhibiting activity of its LTR. We report that topotecan, beta-lapachone, and curcumin are potent and selective inhibitors of HIV-1 LTR-directed gene expression, at concentrations that have minor effects on cells. At these concentrations, each drug inhibited p24 antigen production in cells either acutely or chronically infected with HIV-1. Their target is transcriptional function of the LTR.
