2-Cyclo-penten-1-one as an inducer of HSP-70

The invention relates to 2-cyclopenten-1-one as un inducer of heat shock protein HSP70 by activating the heat shock transcription factor HSF, and selectively inducing the transcription and translation of HSP70 in human cells. In particular, since cytoprotective role of HSP70 during viral infection was previously shown, the invention refers 2-cyclopenten-1-one and its pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives as inducers of HSP70 with activity. Treatment with 2-cyclopenten-1-one and its pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives causes a dose-dependent reduction of infectious virus yield during infection with vesicular stomatitis virus. The block of virus replication is due to inhibition of viral protein synthesis, associated with HSP70 synthesis