Aloe-emodin inhibits African swine fever virus replication by promoting apoptosis via regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

Abstract African swine fever (ASF) is an acute infectious haemorrhagic fever of pigs caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). Aloe-emodin (Ae) is an active ingredient of Chinese herbs with antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the antiviral activity and mechanism o...

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Main Authors: Yizhuo Luo, Yunlong Yang, Wenru Wang, Qi Gao, Ting Gong, Yongzhi Feng, Dongdong Wu, Xiaoyu Zheng, Guihong Zhang, Heng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-07-01
Series:Virology Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-023-02126-8
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Summary:Abstract African swine fever (ASF) is an acute infectious haemorrhagic fever of pigs caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). Aloe-emodin (Ae) is an active ingredient of Chinese herbs with antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the antiviral activity and mechanism of action of Ae against ASFV using Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), western blotting, and indirect immunofluorescence assays. Ae significantly inhibited ASFV replication. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that ASFV infection activated the NF-κB signaling pathway in the early stage and the apoptosis pathway in the late stage. Ae significantly downregulated the expression levels of MyD88, phosphor-NF-κB p65, and pIκB proteins as well as the mRNA levels of IL-1β and IL-8 in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) infected with ASFV, thereby inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway induced by ASFV. Flow cytometry and western blot analysis revealed that Ae significantly increased the percentage of ASFV-induced apoptotic cells. Additionally, Ae promoted apoptosis by upregulating the expression levels of cleaved-caspase3 and Bax proteins and downregulating the expression levels of Bcl-2 proteins. This suggests that Ae promotes apoptosis by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, resulting in inhibition of ASFV replication. These findings have further improved therapeutic reserves for the prevention and treatment of ASF.
ISSN:1743-422X