0000000000217623
AUTHOR
Miroslav J. Gašić
Avarol restores the altered prostaglandin and leukotriene metabolism in monocytes infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Abstract Infection of monocytes with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (strain Ada-M) caused increased levels of leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) in vitro. These two products result from the activities of the two enzymes cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase. The addition of the sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone Avarol, an HIV inhibitor, strongly reduced the levels of LTB 4 and PGE 2 via inhibition of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase in monocytes. The 50% inhibition concentrations (IC 50 ) for the enzymes were determined to be 2.26 μM (cyclooxygenase) and 1.97 μM (lipoxygenase). A 50% reduction of the extent of PGE 2 and LTB 4 production in HIV-infected monocytes…
Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection by human conglutinin-like protein: in vitro studies.
The lectin-like protein analogous to bovine conglutinin was purified from human serum. The carbohydrate-binding ability of conglutinin-like protein was inhibited by D-mannose, N-acetylglucosamine and L-fucose as well as by mannan-containing oligosaccharides. By applying a lectin-based ELISA system it was demonstrated that conglutinin-like protein binds to human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) glycoprotein 120 (gp120) via its carbohydrate binding site. In vitro experiments with T-lymphoblastoid CEM cells revealed that conglutinin-like protein abolishes infection by HIV-1; a 50% cytoprotective concentration of 23.9 micrograms/ml was measured. These findings demonstrate that human conglutinin…
A D-mannose-specific lectin from Gerardia savaglia that inhibits nucleocytoplasmic transport of mRNA.
A new lectin has been isolated from the coral Gerardia savaglia by affinity chromatography, using locust gum as an absorbent, and D-mannose as eluant. Final purification was achieved by Bio-Gel P300 gel filtration. The agglutinin is a protein composed of two polypeptide chains with a Mr of 14800; the two subunits are not linked by disulfide bond(s). The isoelectric point is 4.8, the amino acid composition is rich in the acidic amino acids aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The absorption maximum for the protein was at 276 nm; with a molar absorption coefficient of 1.27 X 10(5) M-1 cm-1. The lectin precipitated erythrocytes from humans (A, B and O), sheep, rabbit and carp with a titer between …