Background: Emerging evidence that Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection closely related to infection with the generation of apoptosis. Excess apoptosis exacerbates inflammatory reactions and can even result in the death of the cell. The ZVAD is a broad caspase inhibitor, can prevent apoptosis and regulate the survival in many different cell types.
Methods: The aims of this project were to elucidate the mechanism of the ZVAD in anti-EV71 virus.
Results: Our data showed that reduced viral replication was observed after treated with ZVAD in EV71 infected Vero and SK-N-SH cells. Meanwhile, Vero and SK-N-SH cells infected with EV71virus were both exhibit higher cells viability in the presence of ZVAD. Additionally, ZVAD can decrease the apoptosis, ROS and inflammation induced by EV71 in the infected Vero cells. However, ZVAD may play an antiviral role in SK-N-SH cells through the mTOR signaling pathway
Conclusions: In addition to inhibiting caspase, ZVAD also inhibits apoptosis by regulating ROS and inflammation cytokines to achieve antiviral effect.