Z Gastroenterol 2013; 51 - P_5_09
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1332123

Vitamin D3, 25(OH) vitamin D3 and the synthetic vitamin D3 analogue Seocalcitol reduce HCV replication

W Dammermann 1, N van der Maaden 1, R Bartenschlager 2, G Sass 3, G Tiegs 3, S Lüth 1
  • 1University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Medicine I, Hamburg, Germany
  • 2University of Heidelberg, Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg, Germany
  • 3University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendor, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Hepatology, Hamburg, Germany

Background and Aims: Adding vitamin D3 to conventional HCV regimen has been shown to accelerate the viral response in treatment-naïve chronic patients with the HCV genotypes 1, 2 and 3. In addition 25(OH) vitamin D3, but not vitamin D3 and 1, 25(OH)2 vitamin D3 have been found to reduce replication of HCV genotype 2 in vitro. Here we investigated the anti-viral properties of all 3 natural metabolites and the synthetic vitamin D3 analogue Seocalcitol against HCV genotype 1.

Methods: HCV replication was analyzed in LucUbiNeo-ET replicon cells, stably expressing HCV genes NS3 to NS5B in combination with firefly luciferase, by luciferase reporter assay. Additionally, HO-1 induction by vitamin D3, 25(OH) vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 and Seocalcitol was measured by real time RT-PCR and Western Blot.

Results: Vitamin D3 and Seocalcitol decreased HCV replication without cytotoxic effects on the replicon system, whereas equimolar concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D3 were similarly effective, but reduced cell viability.

Conclusions: Vitamin D3 may be a potent supplement for conventional HCV therapy, which evidentially acts by decreasing replication of HCV, genotypes 1 and 2. Seocalcitol with its anti-viral properties could become a useful surrogate for vitamin D3 in cases, where patients are difficult to treat or show treatment failure.