Thiazolides, a new class of antiviral agents effective against rotavirus infection, target viral morphogenesis, inhibiting viroplasm formation.

Rotaviruses, nonenveloped viruses presenting a distinctive triple-layered particle architecture enclosing a segmented double-stranded RNA genome, exhibit a unique morphogenetic pathway requiring the formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies called viroplasms in a process involving the nonstructural viral proteins NSP5 and NSP2. In these structures the concerted packaging and replication of the 11 positive-polarity single-stranded RNAs take place to generate the viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genomic segments. Rotavirus infection is a leading cause of gastroenteritis-associated severe morbidity and mortality in young children, but no effective antiviral therapy exists.

Induction of apoptosis in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells by natural and synthetic cyclopentenones: role of the IkappaB kinase/nuclear factor-kappaB pathway.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), a transcription factor with a critical role in promoting inflammation and cell survival, is constitutively activated in estrogen-receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer and is considered a potential therapeutic target for this type of neoplasia. We have previously demonstrated that cyclopentenone prostaglandins are potent inhibitors of NF-kappaB activation by inflammatory cytokines, mitogens, and viral infection, via direct binding and modification of the beta subunit of the IkappaB kinase complex (IKK). Herein, we describe the NF-kappaB-dependent anticancer activity of natural and synthetic cyclopentenone IKK inhibitors.

15-Deoxy-delta 12,14-prostaglandin J2 induces apoptosis in human malignant B cells: an effect associated with inhibition of NF-kappa B activity and down-regulation of antiapoptotic proteins.

Cyclopentenone prostaglandins are potent inhibitors of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), a transcription factor with a critical role in promoting inflammation and connected with multiple aspects of oncogenesis and cancer cell survival. In the present report, we investigated the role of NF-kappa B in the antineoplastic activity of the cyclopentenone prostaglandin 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) in multiple myeloma (MM) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells expressing constitutively active NF-kappa B. 15d-PGJ(2) was found to suppress constitutive NF-kappa B activity and potently induce apoptosis in both types of B-cell malignancies.