Inhibition of the Subgenomic Hepatitis C Virus Replicon in Huh-7 Cells by 2′-Deoxy-2′-Fluorocytidine

Abstract

2'-Deoxy-2'-fluorocytidine (FdC) is a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus RNA replicon in culture, and FdC-5'-triphosphate is an effective inhibitor of the NS5B polymerase. Dynamic profiling of cell growth in an antiviral assay showed that FdC caused cytostasis due to an S-phase arrest. These observations demonstrate that FdC treatment is affecting both a viral target and a cellular target.