Evaluation of anti-human respiratory syncytial virus effects of short interfering RNAs and β-defensin-4

Abstract

The human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infection is a global public health burden in children aged under 2 years and immunocompromised or elderly adults. The choice for prophylaxis and therapy of hRSV infection was constrained to Palivizumab and Ribavirin. Therefore, this study aimed to develop effective anti-hRSV infection agents, such as short interfering RNA (siRNA) and β-defensin-4 (β-D-4).

Since there still is no compatible animal model to evaluate antiviral effect of anti-hRSV agents, we first attempted to establish suitable animal model. A clinical isolate of hRSV (KI-RSV-W) was adapted in BALB/c mice by serial passages. Old male mice (age > 8 months) were used for establishment of hRSV infection model, because the more efficient viral infection in lungs of the old male mice than that old female mice and young mice (age < 3 weeks). After the virus was propagated in old male mice for 20 passages, a virus variant KI-RSV-P70-4 exhibited more efficient infection/replication in the mice. Its viral load was about 100-fold higher than that of wild type strain KI-RSV-W. The infection of KI-RSV-P70-4 also caused more severe histopathological changes in lung tissues. Although KI-RSV-P70-4 could not result in death of the infected mice, both viral load and pathological change in lungs may be good indicators for evaluating antiviral effect. The mouse model and adapted hRSV strain solidly laid the foundation for evaluation of anti-hRSV agents.

We then designed and evaluated anti-hRSV effect of siRNAs. A total of 25 siRNAs targeting 4 viral genes (M2-1, NS2, N and F) were designed and their anti-hRSV effect was assessed in vitro. The results showed that 6 siRNAs respectively targeting M2-1, N and F genes exhibited higher anti-hRSV effect than that of the positive control, whereas those targeting NS2 gene did not show significant antiviral effect. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of three most potent siRNAs (M2-1-361, N889 and F-1143) were 0.51, 2.14 and 0.64 nM, respectively.

Antiviral activity of β-D-4 against hRSV infection was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experiments showed supreme antiviral effect with IC50 around 3.4 μg/ml when the virus was pretreated with β-D-4, but no significant inhibitory effect was observed when the cells were pretreated with β-D-4 or β-D-4 was maintained in the culture medium after viral infection. These results indicated that the inhibitory effect of β-D-4 was associated with direct interaction with the virus itself and blocked virus entry of the cells. Furthermore, a single dose (13.6 μg) of β-D-4 intratracheal (i.t.) administration in old male mice after the viral infection resulted in about 0.7 log reduce of viral load in lung tissues, while inoculation of premixed β-D-4 and the virus caused about 3 logs decrease of viral load in lungs. These results have demonstrated that β-D-4 may be an effective anti-hRSV agent.

Taken together, old male BALB/c mice might be used to establish hRSV infection model. Three siRNAs and the β-D-4 were validated as the potent anti-hRSV agents, respectively.