e-3330 and Coronavirus-Infections

In this experiment, we examined the protective effects of a novel quinone derivative, E3330, on MHV-2cc-induced chronic hepatitis in athymic nude mice for up to 3 weeks after virus infection. The daily dose of 25 mg/kg b.w. suppressed the viral replication in the liver and the progression of hepatic lesions. The expansion of small focal lesions at 1 week after viral inoculation (WAI) was suppressed at 2 WAI, and the lesions were still small at 3 WAI in E3330-administered group, whereas small focal lesions at 1 WAI were expanded at 2 WAI to fuse with each other at 3 WAI in the control group. E3330 therefore showed protective effects on MHV-2cc-induced chronic hepatitis in athymic nude mice, but further studies are needed to analyze the mechanism.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Benzoquinones; Chronic Disease; Coronavirus Infections; Female; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal; Interferon Type I; Interferon-gamma; Liver; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Murine hepatitis virus; Propionates; Recombinant Proteins; Virus Replication