Effect of acyclovir on the uptake of131 I-labelled 1-(2′fluoro-2′-deoxy-βD-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-lodouracil in herpes infected cells

Selective uptake of nucleoside analogues by herpes simplex virus infected cells may serve as the basis for a specific non-invasive diagnostic test for herpes simplex encephalitis. We have examined the effect of acyclovir on the selective uptake of [131I] 1-(2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil in herpes simplex virus infected primary rabbit kidney cells. Infected cells treated with acyclovir continued to concentrate [131I] 1-(2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil for up to 24 h after the addition of the antiviral agent. These results indicated that therapy with acyclovir for as long as 24 h would not prevent the selective trapping of nucleoside analogues. This has important implications for the use of nucleoside analogues in diagnostic brain scans to detect herpes simplex encephalitis.