Selenite inhibition of Coxsackie virus B5 replication: implications on the etiology of Keshan disease

作者：Cermelli C^*; Vinceti M; Scaltriti E; Bazzani E; Beretti F; Vivoli G; Portotani M

来源：Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2002, 16(1): 41-46.

DOI：10.1016/S0946-672X(02)80007-4

• Keshan disease
• Coxsackie virus
• selenite inhibition

Keshan disease is a cardiomyopathy of unknown origin reported in some areas of China. Because of epidemiologic features, this disease was ascribed to an infectious agent, likely a Coxsackie virus, but it has also been thought to depend on selenium deficiency, mainly because selenite is effective in its prophylaxis. We examined the hypothesis that pharmacological activity of selenite on Coxsackie virus growth was associated with prevention of Keshan disease. We studied the antiviral effects of three selenium compounds on Coxsackie virus B5 replication: five muM selenite reduced viral replication, whilst 10 muM selenate and selenomethionine did not exhibit any antiviral activity. The inhibitory activity of selenite on viral replication was due to its toxicity following its interaction with thiols, as that activity could be blocked by dithiothreitol, a sulfhydryl-protecting agent known to reverse several toxic effect of selenite. Zinc, another inhibitor of selenite toxicity, also counteracted the antiviral effect of selenite. The selenium compounds showed only limited activity against herpes simplex 1 virus and IHD strain of vaccinia virus. A direct inhibitory effect of selenite on Coxsackie virus replication might explain the efficacy demonstrated by this compound in the prophylaxis of Keshan disease.

• 出版日期2002