[Experimental study of suppression of reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 by cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor with acyclovir].

OBJECTIVE

To study whether the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor can block the herpes virus reactivation and whether the combination of COX-2 inhibitor with acyclovir can enhance the inhibition of virus reactivation.

METHODS

It was a experimental study. Mice were randomly divided into six groups. Five groups were HSV-1 infected mice, which included: group A, treated with lornoxicam and acyclovir; groups B and C, treated with lornoxicam or acyclovir, respectively; groups E and F were injected with saline as the untreated control groups. The sixth group was uninfected mice as the control group. All groups were undergone to reactivate the herpes virus by UV-B except group F. The shedding of the virus was determined by cultures of ocular swab or ganglion homogenates with indicator cells.

RESULTS

The rates of corneas and ganglia containing the infectious virus in the groups A, B and C were significantly lower than those in the control group D, (cornea: 2XA-D = 36.88, XB-D = 22.43, X2C-D = 20.32, P < 0.05, ganglia : X2A-D = 49.91 X2B-D =29. 16,X2C.D = 24.89, P < 0.05). Combined use of these two drugs in group A showed no significant statistical difference as compared with using them separately in the cornea culture (X2A-B= 2.75, X2A-C = 3.66, 0. 05 < P < 0.1), but there was significant difference in trigeminal ganglia culture (X2A-B = 4.78, 2XA-c = 6. 97, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These experiments demonstrate that a selective COX-2 inhibitor can suppress UV-B-induced herpes virus reactivation in the cornea and nervous system. A combination of acyclovir does not significantly enhance the inhibition of virus reactivation by lornoxicam. These results provide a new method to prevent the recurrence of HSK.