Title Therapeutic and prophylactic activity of itraconazole against human rhinovirus infection in a murine model.
Author Shim, Aeri; Song, Jae-Hyoung; Kwon, Bo-Eun; Lee, Jeong-Jun; Ahn, Jae-Hee; Kim, Yeon-Jeong; Rhee, Ki-Jong; Chang, Sun-Young; Cha, Younggil; Lee, Yong-Soo; Kweon, Mi-Na; Park, Kwi Sung; Kim, Dong-Eun; Cho, Sungchan; Cho, Hyun-Jong; Ko, Hyun-Jeong
Journal Sci Rep Publication Year/Month 2016-Mar
PMID 26976677 PMCID PMC4791555
Affiliation + expend 1.College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is the most common viral infectious agent in humans and is the predominant cause of the common cold. There is a need for appropriate vaccines or therapeutic agents to treat HRV infection. In this study, we investigated whether itraconazole (ICZ) can protect cells from HRV-induced cytotoxicity. Replication of HRV1B was reduced by ICZ treatment in the lungs of HRV1B- as compared to vehicle-treated mice. The numbers of immune cells, including granulocytes and monocytes, were reduced in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by ICZ administration after HRV1B infection, corresponding to decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels in BALF. A histological analysis of lung tissue showed that ICZ suppressed inflammation caused by HRV1B infection. Interestingly, pretreatment of mice with ICZ in the form of a nasal spray had potent prophylactic antiviral activity. Cholesterol accumulation in the plasma membrane was observed upon HRV infection; ICZ blocked cholesterol trafficking to the plasma membrane, as well as resulted in its accumulation in subcellular compartments near the nucleus. These findings suggest that ICZ is a potential antiviral agent for the treatment of HRV infection, which can be adopted preventatively as well as therapeutically.

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