11 Jul Anti-depressant Amitriptyline May Inhibit Adenovirus Infections

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prof. Urs Greber, PhD
Professor of Molecular Cell Biology
Institute of Molecular Life Sciences
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Prof. Greber: This study has addressed two fundamental questions in virology – how do non-enveloped viruses which are lipid-free penetrate through cell membranes, and how is this process tuned by host lipids?

We found that certain neutral lipids, ceramide lipids, were upregulated during the entry process of human adenovirus into cells. The ceramide lipids enhanced the uptake of viruses into cells by endocytosis, and they boosted the disruption of endosomal vesicles which carried the virus,, and thereby enhanced infection.

The ceramide lipids were found to be produced by the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), which was secreted from lysosomes to the plasma membrane upon virus attachment to cells.

ASMase is a clinical target, and can be inhibited by the antidepressant amitriptyline, a small chemical compound, which is widely used to treat mental disorders.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Prof. Greber: The anti-depressant amitriptyline inhibits infection of cells with human adenovirus. This virus causes respiratory, ocular and intestinal disease.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Prof. Greber: Future research will show if amitriptyline can be used to treat viral disease in humans.

Citation:

Stefania Luisoni, Maarit Suomalainen, Karin Boucke, Lukas B. Tanner, Markus R. Wenk, Xue Li Guan, Michał Grzybek, Ünal Coskun, Urs F. Greber. Co-option of Membrane Wounding Enables Virus Penetration into Cells. Cell Host & Microbe, 2015; 18 (1): 75 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.06.006

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Future research will show if amitriptyline can be used to treat viral disease in humans. (2015). Anti-depressant Amitriptyline May Inhibit Adenovirus Infections 

Last Updated on July 11, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD