A team from the University of Tartu in Estonia has identified a new small-molecule compound, NSC51349, that successfully inhibits the replication of skin-type human papillomavirus (HPV) without damaging host cells, offering new hope for related treatments. The findings were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Virology.
HPV causes skin and mucosal infections, and can even lead to cancer. While vaccines effectively prevent some high-risk mucosal HPV infections, they do nothing for skin-type HPV. Currently, there are no effective antiviral treatments for skin-type HPV.
The team screened over 1,500 compounds in a high-throughput process, focusing on HPV type 5 – a skin virus linked to increased skin cancer risk, which primarily infects skin epithelial cells.
They pinpointed NSC51349, and subsequent tests confirmed it inhibited HPV type 5 replication in U2OS cells. Further analysis showed it also suppressed viral genome transcription. Models indicated its mechanism targets skin-type, not mucosal-type, HPV.
Tests also found NSC51349 inhibited two other skin-type HPVs (types 8 and 38) and was non-toxic to host cells, suggesting it may have broad-spectrum effects.
The team noted NSC51349 could represent a new HPV-specific antiviral with significant therapeutic potential. If effective in animal models, it may be developed into a treatment for skin-type HPV.
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