JOURNAL OF SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY (MEDICAL SCIENCE) ›› 2021, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4): 467-472.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2021.04.008

• Basic research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Inhibition of semen-derived enhancer of viral infection by superoxide dismutase

Meng-jie QIU(), Zhao-feng LI, Yi-bin LI, Yu-liu CHEN, Hong-yan CHENG, Shu-wen LIU, Sui-yi TAN()   

  1. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
  • Received:2020-06-08 Online:2021-04-28 Published:2021-05-14
  • Contact: Sui-yi TAN E-mail:qmj1194673860@163.com;suiyitan@smu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(81772194)

Abstract: Objective

·To explore the inhibitory effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the formation of semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI) amyloid fibrils.

Methods

·Prostatic acid phosphatase 248-286 (PAP248-286) at 440 μmol/L or seminal fluid was incubated with SOD at different activity levels, and at different time points, aliquots were taken from each sample for thioflavin T (ThT) staining, circular dichroism (CD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) to detect the effect of SOD on the formation of SEVI. The effect of SOD on the ability of SEVI to promote human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection was detected by virus infection enhancement experiment. The effects of inactivated SOD on the formation of SEVI and the ability of SEVI to promote virus infection were also detected. The SOD activity levels in the semen of five healthy volunteers were detected by using total SOD activity detection kit.

Results

·The results of ThT staining showed that 46 U/mL and 92 U/mL SOD could inhibit the formation of SEVI fibrils in the PAP248-286 solution in vitro at 48-h time point. The results of CD showed that SOD could inhibit the formation of β-sheet structure of SEVI. The results of TEM also showed that SOD could inhibit the formation of SEVI. The ThT staining in the semen also demonstrated the inhibitory effect of SOD on the formation of SEVI. As shown in the virus infection enhancement experiment, SOD could inhibit the promoting effect of SEVI on HIV-1 infection. When SOD was inactivated, the effects above almost disappeared. The SOD activities in the semen of the five healthy males were 74.87, 68.69, 85.46, 113.29, and 109.53 U/mL, respectively.

Conclusion

·SOD can inhibit the formation of SEVI fibrils in vitro and the promoting effect of SEVI on HIV-1 infection.

Key words: superoxide dismutase (SOD), semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI), amyloid fibril, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexual transmission, semen

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