• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.689-695
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• 2009

Chemically synthesized small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can specifically knock-down expression of target genes via RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. To date, the length of synthetic siRNA duplex has been strictly maintained less than 30 bp, because an early study suggested that double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) longer than 30 bp could not trigger specific gene silencing due to the induction of non-specific antiviral interferon responses. Contrary to the current belief, here we show that synthetic dsRNA as long as 38 bp can result in specific target gene silencing without non-specific antiviral responses. Using this longer duplex structure, we have generated dsRNAs, which can simultaneously knock-down expression of two target genes (termed as dual-target siRNAs or dsiRNAs). Our results thus demonstrate the structural flexibility of gene silencing siRNAs, and provide a starting point to construct multifunctional RNA structures. The dsiRNAs could be utilized to develop a novel therapeutic gene silencing strategy against diseases with multiple gene alternations such as viral infection and cancer.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2004

We have extended our previous work that cross-linking CD4 molecules using specific MAb induced antigen nonspecific, MHC unrestricted killing of virally infected target cells by CD$4^+$We have extended our previous work that cross-linking CD$4^+$ molecules using specific MAb induced antigen nonspecific, MHC unrestricted killing of virally infected target cells by CD$4^+$ T cells. The killing activity of antibody activated CD$4^+$T cells was completely blocked by herbimycin A, a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, but not by bisindolylamaleimide, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Herbimycin A treated human or bovine peripheral blood CD$4^+$T cells lacked PTK activity and failed to kill virally infected target cells even after cross-linking of CD4 molecules. The CD$4^+$cross-linking failed to induce effector cell proliferation or the transcription of TNF${\beta}$ Upregulation of TNF${\beta}$ was induced by incubating the antibody activated effector cells with BHV-1 infected D17 target cells for 10 h. Anti-TNF${\beta}$ antibody partially abolished (13-44%) the direct effector cell-mediated antiviral cytotoxicity. However, this antibody neutralized 70 to 100% of antiviral activity of effector and target cell culture supernatants against BHV-1 infected D17 cells. The inhibition level of the antiviral activity by the antibody was dependent on the effector and target cell ratio. These results support the hypothesis that increased p$56^ICK enzyme activity in effector cells transduces a signal critical for effector cell recognition of viral glycoproteins expressed on the target cells. Following target cell recognition, lytic cytokines known to participate in target cell killing were produced. A better understanding of the killing activity displayed by CD$4^+$T lymphocytes following surface receptor cross-linking will provide insight into the mechanisms of cytotoxic activity directed toward virally-infected cells.T cells. The killing activity of antibody activated CD$4^+$T cells was completely blocked by herbimycin A, a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, but not by bisindolylamaleimide, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Herbimycin A treated human or bovine peripheral blood CD4T cells lacked PTK activity and failed to kill virally infected target cells even after cross-linking of CD4molecules. The CD4 cross-linking failed to induce effector cell proliferation or the transcription of TNF$\beta$. Upregulation of TNF$\beta$ was induced by incubating the antibody activated effector cells with BHV-1 infected D17 target cells for 10 h. Anti-TNF$\beta$ antibody partially abolished (13-44%) the direct effector cell-mediated antiviral cytotoxicity. However, this antibody neutralized 70 to 100% of antiviral activity of effector and target cell culture supernatants against BHV-1 infected D17 cells. The inhibition level of the antiviral activity by the antibody was dependent on the effector and target cell ratio. These results support the hypothesis that increased $56^ICK enzyme activity in effector cells transduces a signal critical for effector cell recognition of viral glycoproteins expressed on the target cells. Following target cell recognition, lytic cytokines known to participate in target cell killing were produced. A better understanding of the killing activity displayed by CD$4^+$T lymphocytes following surface receptor cross-linking will provide insight into the mechanisms of cytotoxic activity directed toward virally-infected cells.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.181.2-181.2
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• 2003

Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase(IMPDH) catalyzes the $NAD^+$-dependent oxidation of IMP to XMP, the rate limiting step in the de novo biosynthesis of guanine nucleotide. Its critical role at the metabolic branch point in purine nucleotide biosynthesis makes it a useful target in the development of drugs for antiviral and anticancer chemotherapy and in immunosupressant area. Several compound with antiviral activity have been found to be inhibitors of IMPDH. For example, ribavirin, a competitive inhibitor of IMPDH, has broad spectrum antiviral activities against DNA and RNA viruses. (omitted)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1284-1288
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• 2003

A very short and concise synthetic route for a novel acyclic version of d4T is described. The required quaternary carbon was successfully installed using a [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. The condensation of the mesylates 16-18 with an adenine base under standard nucleophilic substitution conditions ($K_2CO_3$, 18-Crown- 6, DMF) in addition to deblocking afforded the target acyclic nucleosides 22-24. In addition, the antiviral evaluations against various viruses were performed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 1998

MHC unrestricted, antigen nonspecific killing by $CD4^+$ T-cells against virally-infected target cells was induced following cross-linking of CD4 molecules. The cytotoxicity of antibody-activated $CD4^+$ T-cells was abolished by genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone), a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, but not by H-7, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Genisteintreated human or bovine peripheral blood $CD4^+$ T-cells lacked PTK activity and failed to kill virally-infected target cells even after cross-linking of CD4 molecules. The cross-linking of CD4 molecules did not induce effector cell proliferation or the transcription of TNF ${\beta}$. TNF ${\beta}$ synthesis was up-regulated by incubating antibody activated effector cells with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) infected D17 target cells. Anti-TNF ${\beta}$ antibody partially abrogated direct effector cell-mediated antiviral cytotoxicity. On the other hand, this antibody effectively neutralized antiviral activity of effector and target cell culture supernatants against BHV-1 infected D17 cells. The inhibition level of the antiviral activity by the antibody was dependent on effector and target cell ratio. These findings have importance to define the mechanisms of how CD4 cytotoxic cells control viral infection.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2009

Recent studies suggest a novel role of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ under nonhypoxic conditions, including antibacterial and antiviral innate immune responses. However, the identity of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern which triggers $HIF-1{\alpha}$ activation during the antiviral response remains to be identified. Here, we demonstrate that cellular administration of double-stranded nucleic acids, the molecular mimics of viral genomes, results in the induction of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ protein level as well as the increase in $HIF-1{\alpha}$ target gene expression. Whole-genome DNA microarray analysis revealed that double-stranded nucleic acid treatment triggers induction of a number of hypoxia-inducible genes, and induction of these genes are compromised upon siRNA-mediated $HIF-1{\alpha}$ knock-down. Interestingly, $HIF-1{\alpha}$ knock-down also resulted in down-regulation of a number of genes involved in antiviral innate immune responses. Our study demonstrates that $HIF-1{\alpha}$ activation upon nucleic acid-triggered antiviral innate immune responses plays an important role in regulation of genes involved in not only hypoxic response, but also immune response.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.153-163
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• 2015

Racemic synthesis of novel 5',5'-difluoro-2'-methyl-apiose nucleoside phosphonic acid analogs was achieved as potent antiviral agents. Phosphonation was performed by direct displacement of triflate intermediate with diethyl (lithiodifluoromethyl) phosphonate to give the corresponding (${\alpha},{\alpha}$-difluoroalkyl) phosphonate. Condensation successfully proceeded from a glycosyl donor with persilylated bases to yield the nucleoside phosphonate analogs. Deprotection of diethyl phosphonates provided the target nucleoside analogs. An antiviral evaluation of the synthesized compounds against various viruses such as HIV, HSV-1, HSV-2 and HCMV revealed that the pyrimidine analogs (cytosine, uracil, and thymine) have weak anti-HIV or HCMV activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2007

In these study novel 1,4-disubstituted carbocyclic nucleoside analogues were synthesized as potential antiviral agents. The coupling reaction of the alcohol 8${\alpha}$ with natural bases using Mitsunobu reaction afforded the target nucleosides 13, 14. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antiviral activity against various viruses such as HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2 and HCMV. Cytosine derivative 13 exhibited moderate antiviral activity against HIV-1 (EC$_{50}$=16.4 ${\mu}$M).

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.538-544
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• 2003

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The development of alternative antiviral therapies is warranted because current treatments for the HCV infection affect only a limited number of patients and lead to significant toxicities. The HCV genome is exclusively present in the RNA form; therefore, ribozyme strategies to target certain HCV sequences have been proposed as anti-HCV treatments. In this study, we determined which regions of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of HCV are accessible to ribozymes by employing an RNA mapping strategy that is based on a trans-splicing ribozyme library. We then discovered that the loop regions of the domain IIIb of HCV IRES appeared to be particularly accessible. Moreover, to verify if the target sites that were predicted to be accessible are truly the most accessible, we assessed the ribozyme activities by comparing not only the trans-splicing activities in vitro but also the trans-cleavage activities in cells of several ribozymes that targeted different sites. The ribozyme that could target the most accessible site identified by mapping studies was then the most active with high fidelity in cells as well as in vitro. These results demonstrate that the RNA mapping strategy represents an effective method to determine the accessible regions of target RNAs and have important implications for the development of various antiviral therapies which are based on RNA such as ribozyme, antisense, or siRNA.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.2626-2630
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• 2009

2'($\beta$)-Hydroxymethylated adenosine is a potent and selective inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. It targets the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of HCV, NS5B. Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of carbocyclic versions are described. The cyclopentene intermediate ($9\beta$) was successfully synthesized through sequential Johnson-Claisen orthoester rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis (RCM). Coupling of bases via a Pd(0) catalyst, selective dihydroxylation, and desilylation yielded the target nucleoside analogues. The compounds 17 and 18 were assayed for their ability to inhibit HCV RNA replication in a subgenomic replicon Huh7 cell line and showed moderate antiviral activity with toxicity up to 20.0 and 24.7 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively.