Lovastatin Delays Infection and Increases Survival Rates in AG129 Mice Infected with Dengue Virus Serotype 2

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087412
• Publication Date: 2014-02-21T21:49:10Z
• Authors: Marlen Martinez-G...; Luis A. Correa-Lo...; Jaime E. Castellanos; Juan C. Gallego-G...; Jorge E. Osorio
• Keywords: Viremia; Lovastatin

Background It has been reported that treatment of DENV-infected cultures with Lovastatin (LOV), can affect viral assembly. The objective this study was to evaluate the effect LOV on survival rate and viremia levels DENV-2-infected AG129 mice. Methodology/Principal Findings Mice were inoculated 1×106 plaque-forming units (PFU/ml) DENV-2 treated (200 mg/kg/day). Pre-treatment one or three doses increased compared untreated mice (7.3 7.1 days, respectively, 4.8 days). Viremia also decreased by 21.8% mice, but only in group administered prior inoculation. When after inoculation, days at 24 hpi, 6.8 48 hpi 6.5 two doses) (4.8 Interestingly, serum titer 24.6% a single dose 21.7% (at hpi) Finally histopathological changes liver spleen infected included massive extramedullary erythropoiesis foci inflammatory filtration, these characteristics absent LOV-treated Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest depends timing number administered. We observed significant increase both schemes due delay progression disease. However, obtained post-treatment scheme must be handled carefully because increases we do not know how could disease humans.