Anti-viral activity of jatrophone against RSV-induced respiratory infection via increase in interferon-γ generating dendritic cells.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a member of Paramyxoviridae family is responsible for bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The present study investigated anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activities of jatrophone against RSV-infection in pulmonary epithelial cells in vitro and in mice model in vivo. The changes in viabilities of RSV infected cells by jatrophone treatment were determined by MTT assay. The fluorescence associated with production of ROS was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy using H2DCFDA dye. The IFN-γ secreting cells were detected in mice BALF by stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. The reduction of BEAS-2B cell viability by RSV was alleviated on treatment with jatrophone in dose based manner. The cytopathogenic changes by RSV infection were prevented and viral growth inhibited by jatrophone in BEAS-2B cells. Jatrophone treatment significantly alleviated RSV mediated overproduction of IL-6/-8 and suppressed ROS generation in the cells. The pulmonary viral titers were found to be markedly lower in mice treated with jatrophone relative to untreated group. The jatrophone treated mice also showed reduced IL-4/-5/-13 levels and elevated IFN-γ level in BALF relative to untreated RSV infected mice. Flow cytometry revealed elevated count of IFN-γ generating cells in RSV infected mice on treatment with jatrophone. Thus jatrophone inhibits viral growth and oxidative damage by RSV in pulmonary epithelial cells. In RSV infected mice jatrophone increased immunity for viral infection by modulating cell phenotype for promotion of anti-viral IFN-γ. Thus jatrophone acts as potential anti-viral compound and may be developed for treatment of respiratory treat infection.