Hydrocephalus induction in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 after antiviral treatment: X. Yao, and R. F. Schinazi.* Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, Georgia 30033, USA

Abstract

PMEA [9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine] inhibited both HSV-1 and HIV-1 replication in MT-2 and HeLa–CD4 cells. (S)-1-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonylmethoxy)propyl]cytosine (HPMPC) inhibited both these viruses in the epithelioid HeLa–CD4 cells, but did not inhibit either virus in the T-lymphocytic MT-2 cells. PMEA and HPMPC are metabolized to their diphosphorylated forms within cells, which then inhibit viral polymerases. We therefore compared the metabolism of PMEA and HPMPC in MT-2 and HeLa–CD4 cells. PMEApp formation was efficient in both the cell types, whereas HPMPCpp levels were ∼3–10 fold lower in MT-2 cells, compared to HeLa–CD4 cells. These results indicate that HPMPC can inhibt HIV replication in the appropriate cell types, and show that differences in their metabolism cannot account entirely for the lack of antiviral efficacy of HPMPC in MT-2 cells.