Antiviral effects of pan-caspase inhibitors on the replication of coxsackievirus B3

The induction of apoptosis during coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection is well documented. In order to study whether the inhibition of apoptosis has an impact on CVB3 replication, the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK was used. The decreased CVB3 replication is based on reduced accumulation of both viral RNA and viral proteins. These effects are due to an inhibitory influence of Z-VAD-FMK on the proteolytic activity of the CVB3 proteases 2A and 3C, which was demonstrated by using the target protein poly(A)-binding protein (PABP). The antiviral effect of the structurally different pan-caspase inhibitor Q-VD-OPH was independently of the viral protease inhibition and resulted in suppression of virus progeny production and impaired release of newly produced CVB3 from infected cells. A delayed release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm was detected in Q-VD-OPH-treated CVB3-infected cells pointing to an involvement of caspases in the initial steps of mitochondrial membrane-permeabilization.