Cell-specific antiviral activity of 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β- d-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodocytosine (FIAC) against Marek's disease herpesvirus and turkey herpesvirus

Abstract

Three new fluoroarabinosylpyrimidine nucleosides (FIAC, FIAU and FMAU) were tested for in vitro activity against oncogenic and nononcogenic strains of Marek's disease virus (MDV) and herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT). Marek's disease is a herpesvirus-induced lymphoma in chickens. Nononcogenic strains of MDV and HVT can protect against this disease. All viruses were inhibited by 1 μM of these drugs in chick kidney cell (CKC) cultures, but only FMAU and FIAU were active in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) and spleen cell cultures. It was determined that whereas CKC produced the enzyme 2′-deoxycytidine-deaminase which is needed to deaminate FIAC to FIAU, CEF were devoid of this enzyme activity. In addition, the deaminase inhibitor 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrouridine prevented the antiviral activity of FIAC in CKC. FMAU was not active against two Marek's disease-derived lymphoblastoid tumor cell lines.