M. Gu et al., IDENTIFICATION OF SALIVARY PROTEINS INHIBITING HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-1REPLICATION, Oral microbiology and immunology, 10(1), 1995, pp. 54-59
Citations number
38
Categorie Soggetti
Immunology,Microbiology,"Dentistry,Oral Surgery & Medicine
Salivary proteins play an important role in the maintenance of the ora
l ecology. Previous studies have indicated that human submandibular-su
blingual and parotid salivas can selectively suppress the in vitro inf
ectivity of herpes simplex virus 1. The purpose of this study was to i
dentify the salivary components in human submandibular-sublingual sali
va that modulate in vitro infectivity. Assessment of the interaction o
f viral particles with salivary components was accomplished using an i
n vitro solid-phase assay. These experiments revealed that herpes simp
lex virus particles selectively interact with the members of the saliv
ary proline-rich protein and cystatin families. Subsequent yield reduc
tion assays demonstrated the ability of proline-rich proteins and sali
vary cystatins to inhibit the viral replication, with basic proline-ri
ch peptides being more effective. Subsequent assays suggest that basic
proline-rich peptides reduced the virus titer by interfering with pen
etration and/or cellular processing of virus within the target cell. C
ollectively, these results further suggest that salivary proteins have
an important role in the host defense mechanism against recurrent her
pesvirus infection.