Melatonin inhibits Zika virus replication in Vero epithelial cells and SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells

Inhibitory effect of melatonin on Zika virus replication

  • Prapimpun Wongchitrat Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
  • Montri Yasawong Program on Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
  • Watthanachai Jumpathong Program on Chemical Sciences, Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand.
  • Tipsuda Chanmanee 1Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
  • Arisara Samutpong Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
  • Worawat Dangsakul Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
  • Piyarat Govitrapong Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Russel J. Reiter Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
  • Pilaipan Puthavathana Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
Keywords: Melatonin, Zika virus, flavivirus, viral replication, mechanisms of action, antiviral activity, Vero epithelial cells, SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus that is causing significant public health concerns worldwide because of its association with severe neurological disorders in both newborns and adults. At present, the search for effective antiviral drugs for ZIKV infection is intense. Melatonin is a molecule that influences a wide variety of physiological processes. Melatonin is a direct free radical scavenger, an indirect antioxidant due to its stimulation of antioxidant enzymes and an anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory molecule; recent studies also have shown melatonin to have anti-viral activity. Here, we are the first to show that melatonin inhibits ZIKV replication in both Vero cells and SK-N-SH cells. The suppressive actions of melatonin pretreatment on ZIKV infection was found to be time- and dose-dependent. The inhibitory effect of melatonin was more pronounced in human SK-N-SH neural cells than in Vero cells. Molecular docking experiments showed that melatonin exhibited high binding affinity to ZIKV nonstructural 3 (NS3) protein, the possible underlying inhibitory mechanism of melatonin on ZIKV replication. The results suggest that melatonin may have potential prophylactic and treatment effects against ZIKV infection.


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Published
2022-06-30
How to Cite
[1]
Wongchitrat, P., Yasawong, M., Jumpathong, W., Chanmanee, T., Samutpong, A., Dangsakul, W., Govitrapong, P., Reiter, R.J. and Puthavathana, P. 2022. Melatonin inhibits Zika virus replication in Vero epithelial cells and SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells. Melatonin Research. 5, 2 (Jun. 2022), 171-185. DOI:https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32794/mr112500127.
Section
Research Articles