[Short interfering RNA-mediated inhibition of coxsakievirus B3 infection in vitro]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate feasibility of inhibiting coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection at cellular, protein and gene levels by using small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Methods: Antiviral activities of siRNAs were evaluated by observing cytopathic effect (CPE), using plaque reduction Western blotting assays and RT-PCR.

Results: Eight siRNAs were synthesized, among them, SiRNA-2, SiRNA-3, SiRNA-6 and SiRNA-7 which were targeted against sequences located in 2B, VP4, 2A and 3C section of CVB3 genome, were designed to have different effect of inhibiting CVB3 infection in vitro. SiRNA-2 showed the best protective effect, 95 percent inhibition of CVB3 cytopathic effect and plaque forming effect was observed at 0.0001 MOI, viral protein synthesis and replication were inhibited. SiRNA-2 showed 30 percent inhibition of virus at 0.1 MOI, 70 percent inhibition at 0.01 MOI, 88 percent inhibition at 0.001 MOI, and 99 percent inhibition at 0.0001 MOI 48 hours after CVB3 infection.

Conclusion: SiRNA could effectively inhibit CVB3 infection in vitro, siRNA-2, which is targeted against sequence in 2B section of CVB3 genome, seemed to be the best one among those synthesized in this study.