The flavonoid apigenin inhibits hepatitis C virus replication by decreasing mature microRNA122 levels

Abstract

Despite recent progress in the development of direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus (HCV), chronic HCV infection remains an important health burden worldwide. MicroRNA122 (miR122), a liver-specific microRNA (miRNA), positively regulates HCV replication, and systemic application of antisense oligonucleotides against miR122 led to the long-lasting suppression of HCV viremia in human clinical trials. Here, we report that apigenin, a flavonoid and an inhibitor of maturation of a subset of miRNAs, inhibits HCV replication in vitro. Apigenin decreased the expression levels of mature miR122 without significantly affecting cell growth. Because supplementation of synthesized miR122 oligonucleotides or overexpression of constitutively active TRBP blocked these effects, the inhibitory effects of apigenin on HCV replication seemed to be dependent on the reduction of mature miR122 expression levels through inhibition of TRBP phosphorylation. Thus, apigenin intake, either through regular diet or supplements, may decrease HCV replication in chronically infected patients.

Flavonoids as Antiviral Agents for Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71)

“…Apigenin was reported as an antiviral against HCV by host factor modulation. It caused a reduction in mature miRNA122 production that regulated HCV infection in vitro [12]. Baicalin was found to interfere with the interaction between the HIV-1 envelope protein and host immune cells.…”

Antiviral effect of phytochemicals from medicinal plants: Applications and drug delivery strategies

“…Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), an aglycone of the flavone class, is found in many plants and has broad antiviral activities against enterovirus-71 [63], foot and mouth disease virus [64], HCV [65], African swine fever virus (ASFV) [66], and influenza A virus [67]. Of note, many flavonoids of plant origin have known antiviral properties.…”

Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus reactivation by the flavonoid apigenin

“…As a large family of natural compounds, the flavonoids have been less well studied for their anti-virus functions. Among them, apigenin was reported to inhibit enterovirus-71 infection by disrupting viral RNA associated factors [39] and it also inhibits hepatitis C virus replication by decreasing microRNA122 [40] and restricts FMDV infection by inhibiting viral translational activity [41]. Moreover, although several flavonoids have been reported to have anti-EBV activity, these studies did not explore their inhibitory mechanisms and most such studies were made using the B cell system [42, 43].…”

“…In fact, there are some studies suggesting that apigenin has anti-viral activity against other viruses [40, 60]. It is worthy of further study further to determine whether apigenin has an inhibitory effect on various other families of viruses.…”