Immunology · 2007 · 46 citations · 15 references
MedicineInfectious DiseasesPharmacologyDrug DeliveryHiv PreventionInflammationAntimicrobial Penetration Into TissuesAntimicrobial PeptidesAntiretroviral TherapyAntiviral PharmacologyAntiviral TherapyPrevention Of Sexual TransmissionAntimicrobial Peptide ResponseAntiviral PeptidesCervicovaginal InflammationCyclic PeptidesHuman Immunodeficiency Virus TransmissionMucosal Antimicrobial PeptidesVaginal Antiviral FormulationsVaginal Microbicides
Retrocyclins are cyclic antimicrobial peptides that exhibit potent activity towards a broad range of primary and laboratory-adapted strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vitro. The current study shows that RC-101, an analogue of retrocyclin, prevented HIV-1 infection in an organ-like construct of human cervicovaginal tissue and retained full activity in the presence of vaginal fluid. The peptide remained within the cervicovaginal tissues throughout the 9-day incubation period without altering tissue viability, inducing damage or inducing the release of inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these data support the potential development of RC-101 as a topical microbicide to prevent HIV-1 infection and transmission.
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