Silibinin Inhibits HIV-1 Infection by Reducing Cellular Activation and Proliferation

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041832
• Publication Date: 2012-07-25T21:18:03Z
• Authors: Janela McClure; Erica S. Lovelace; Shokrollah Elahi; Nicholas J. Maurice; Jessica Wagoner; Joan Dragavon; John E. Mittler; Zane Kraft; Leonidis Stamatatos; Helen Horton; Stephen C. De Rosa; Robert W. Coombs; Stephen J. Polyak
• Keywords: Silibinin; Silybum marianum

Purified silymarin-derived natural products from the milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum) block hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and inhibit T cell proliferation in vitro. An intravenous formulation of silibinin (SIL), a major component silymarin, displays anti-HCV effects humans also inhibits T-cell We show that SIL inhibited replication HIV-1 TZM-bl cells, PBMCs, CEM cells suppression coincided with dose-dependent reductions actively proliferating CD19+, CD4+, CD8+ resulting fewer CD4+ expressing co-receptors CXCR4 CCR5. inhibition growth was not due to cytotoxicity measured by cycle arrest, apoptosis, or necrosis. blocked induction activation markers CD38, HLA-DR, Ki67, CCR5 on cells. The data suggest attenuated cellular functions involved activation, proliferation, infection. Silymarin-derived compounds provide cytoprotection suppressing infection, immune inflammation, as such may be relevant for both HIV mono-infected HIV/HCV co-infected subjects.