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

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