In vitro antiviral activity of poly (A-U) and ellipticines.

The role of N2-methyl-9-hydroxy-ellipticine (NMHE) and N2,N6-dimethyl-9-hydroxy-ellipticine (DMHE) in modulating the antiviral activity of poly (A-U) was examined using a human foreskin fibroblast-vesicular stomatitis virus (HSF-VSV) bioassay in which the concentration of poly (A-U) was fixed at 0.05 mM or 0.2 mM while the NMHE or DMHE concentration was varied to produce variable NMHE (or DMHE)/ribonucleotide ratios ranging from 1:16 to 2:1. Poly (A-U), NMHE and DMHE tested individually were not efficacious antiviral agents. When the poly (A-U) was combined with the NMHE or DMHE, the antiviral activity of the poly (A-U) was potentiated 16- to 20-fold a NMHE (or DMHE)/ribonucleotide ratios in the region of 1/4. Poly (A-U), NMHE and DMHE induce beta-IFN. The interferon-inducing activity of the NMHE (or DMHE)/poly (A-U) combination was equal to the sum of the interferon-inducing activity of the poly (A-U) alone and the NMHE (or DMHE) alone. The direct viral inactivation study demonstrated that NMHE, DMHE, poly (A-U) and the NMHE (or DMHE)/poly (A-U) combinations did not inactivate VSV at concentrations near the 50% viral inhibitory dose. Photomicrographs of HSF cells incubated with NMHE alone or with a NMHE/poly (A-U) combination suggest that poly (A-U) affects the subcellular distribution of the NMHE by steering the NMHE to the nucleolus. These observations suggest that modulation of a nuclear process may be responsible for the enhanced antiviral activity.