scholarly journals Functional co-operation between the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF57 and ORF50 regulatory proteins

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (8) ◽  
pp. 2155-2166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poonam Malik ◽  
David J. Blackbourn ◽  
Ming Fei Cheng ◽  
Gary S. Hayward ◽  
J. Barklie Clements
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Regulatory Proteins ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Infected Cells

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) proteins ORF57 (also known as MTA) and ORF50 (also known as RTA) act post-transcriptionally and transcriptionally to regulate viral lytic gene expression and synergistically activate certain early and late KSHV promoters. When ORF57 and ORF50 were co-expressed, they co-operatively stimulated expression from the promoter of the immediate-early ORF50 gene itself. Co-immunoprecipitations with extracts of KSHV-infected cells showed that ORF57 and ORF50 proteins were present in the same complex. Using the pull-down assay with extracts of KSHV-infected cells, ORF50 protein was shown to interact with a glutathione S-transferase–ORF57 fusion protein. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that ORF50 promoter sequences were preferentially associated with immunoprecipitated chromatin using both anti-ORF50 and anti-ORF57 antibodies consistent with both an in vivo physical association between ORF57 and ORF50 and a potential role for ORF57 at the transcriptional level. This is the first demonstration of an interaction between these two lytic regulatory proteins in a gammaherpesvirus. Expression of ORF50 protein is sufficient to induce lytic replication in latently infected cells and may determine viral host range, spread and KS pathogenesis in vivo. A new insight into the co-ordinated activities of these two key regulatory proteins is provided in which upregulation of the ORF50 promoter with augmentation of ORF50 activity by ORF57 protein, and vice versa, would facilitate the cascade of lytic viral gene expression, thereby breaking latency. A functional and physical interaction between these two gammaherpesvirus regulatory protein counterparts could be a general feature of the herpesviruses.

scholarly journals Principal Role of TRAP/Mediator and SWI/SNF Complexes in Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus RTA-Mediated Lytic Reactivation

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 2055-2067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousang Gwack ◽  
Hwa Jin Baek ◽  
Hiroyuki Nakamura ◽  
Sun Hwa Lee ◽  
Michael Meisterernst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Viral Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Transcription Activator ◽  
Lytic Reactivation ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus

ABSTRACT An important step in the herpesvirus life cycle is the switch from latency to lytic reactivation. The RTA transcription activator of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) acts as a molecular switch for lytic reactivation. Here we demonstrate that KSHV RTA recruits CBP, the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, and the TRAP/Mediator coactivator into viral promoters through interactions with a short acidic sequence in the carboxyl region and that this recruitment is essential for RTA-dependent viral gene expression. The Brg1 subunit of SWI/SNF and the TRAP230 subunit of TRAP/Mediator were shown to interact directly with RTA. Consequently, genetic ablation of these interactions abolished KSHV lytic replication. These results demonstrate that the recruitment of CBP, SWI/SNF, and TRAP/Mediator complexes by RTA is the principal mechanism to direct well-controlled viral gene expression and thereby viral lytic reactivation.

scholarly journals HMGB1 knockout decreases Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus virion production in iSLK BAC16 cells by attenuating viral gene expression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su-Kyung Kang ◽  
Yun Hee Kang ◽  
Seung-Min Yoo ◽  
Changhoon Park ◽  
Hong Seok Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Virion Production ◽  
Viral Genes ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus

Multiple host proteins affect the gene expression of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) during latent and lytic replication. The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) serves as a highly conserved chromosomal protein inside the cell and a prototypical damage-associated molecular pattern molecule outside the cell. HMGB1 has been shown to play a pathogenic role in viral infectious diseases and to regulate the lytic replication of KSHV. However, its functional effects on the KSHV life cycle in KSHV-infected cells have not been fully elucidated. Here, we explored the role of the intracellular and extracellular HMGB1 in KSHV virion production by employing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HMGB1 knockout in the KSHV-producing iSLK BAC16 cell line. Intracellular HMGB1 formed complexes with various proteins, and the abundance of HMGB1-interacting proteins changed during latent and lytic replication. Moreover, extracellular HMGB1 was found to enhance lytic replication by phosphorylating JNK. Of note, the expression of viral genes was attenuated during lytic replication in HMGB1- knockout iSLK BAC16 cells, with significantly decreased production of infectious virions compared to that in wild-type cells. Collectively, our results demonstrate that HMGB1 is an important cellular cofactor that affects the generation of infectious KSHV progeny during lytic replication. Author Summary The high mobility group box 1 protein ( HMGB1 ) has many intra- and extracellular biological functions with an intricate role in various diseases. In certain viral infections, HMGB1 affects the viral life cycle and pathogenesis. In this study, we explored the effects of HMGB1 knockout on the production of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). HMGB1 knockout decreased virion production in KSHV-producing cells by decreasing the expression of viral genes. The processes by which HMGB1 affects KSHV production may occur inside or outside of infected cells. For instance, several cellular and viral proteins interacted with intracellular HMGB1 in a nucleosomal complex; whereas extracellular HMGB1 induced JNK phosphorylation, thus enhancing lytic replication. Our results suggest that both intracellular and extracellular HMGB1 are necessary for efficient KSHV replication. Thus, HMGB1 may represent an effective therapeutic target for the regulation of KSHV production.

scholarly journals Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Prevents AU-Rich-Element-Mediated mRNA Decay

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (16) ◽  
pp. 8859-8871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Corcoran ◽  
Denys A. Khaperskyy ◽  
Benjamin P. Johnston ◽  
Christine A. King ◽  
David P. Cyr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Mrna Degradation ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptor ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Host Shutoff ◽  
G Protein Coupled

During lytic Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection, host gene expression is severely restricted by a process of global mRNA degradation known as host shutoff, which rededicates translational machinery to the expression of viral proteins. A subset of host mRNAs is spared from shutoff, and a number of these containcis-acting AU-rich elements (AREs) in their 3′ untranslated regions. AREs are found in labile mRNAs encoding cytokines, growth factors, and proto-oncogenes. Activation of the p38/MK2 signal transduction pathway reverses constitutive decay of ARE-mRNAs, resulting in increased protein production. The viral G-protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) is thought to play an important role in promoting the secretion of angiogenic molecules from KSHV-infected cells during lytic replication, but to date it has not been clear how vGPCR circumvents host shutoff. Here, we demonstrate that vGPCR activates the p38/MK2 pathway and stabilizes ARE-mRNAs, augmenting the levels of their protein products. Using MK2-deficient cells, we demonstrate that MK2 is essential for maximal vGPCR-mediated ARE-mRNA stabilization. ARE-mRNAs are normally delivered to cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules known as processing bodies (PBs) for translational silencing and decay. We demonstrate that PB formation is prevented during KSHV lytic replication or in response to vGPCR-mediated activation of RhoA subfamily GTPases. Together, these data show for the first time that vGPCR impacts gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, coordinating an attack on the host mRNA degradation machinery. By suppressing ARE-mRNA turnover, vGPCR may facilitate escape of certain target mRNAs from host shutoff and allow secretion of angiogenic factors from lytically infected cells.

scholarly journals Transcription Activation of Polyadenylated Nuclear RNA by Rta in Human Herpesvirus 8/Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 3129-3140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moon Jung Song ◽  
Helen J. Brown ◽  
Ting-Ting Wu ◽  
Ren Sun
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Human Herpesvirus ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Human Herpesvirus 8 ◽  
Rna Expression ◽  
Herpesvirus 8 ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus

ABSTRACT Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) (also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) encodes a novel noncoding polyadenylated nuclear (PAN) RNA (also known as T1.1 or nut-1) during the early phase of lytic replication. PAN RNA is the most abundant transcript of HHV-8, comprising 80% of total poly(A)-selected transcripts in HHV-8-infected cells during lytic replication. We directly measured the abundance of PAN RNA by visualizing 1.1- to 1.2- kb PAN RNA in an ethidium bromide-stained gel from poly(A)-selected RNA. We further pursued the mechanisms by which PAN RNA expression is induced to such high levels.rta, an immediate-early gene of HHV-8, is a transactivator that is sufficient and necessary to activate lytic gene expression in latently infected cells. Ectopic expression of Rta was previously shown to induce PAN RNA expression from the endogenous viral genome and activate the PAN promoter in a reporter system. Here, we have identified the Rta-responsive element (RRE) in the PAN promoter. Deletion analysis revealed that the RRE is present in a region between nucleotides −69 and −38 of the PAN promoter. A promoter construct containing the 69 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site of the PAN promoter was activated by Rta in the absence or presence of the HHV-8 genome. Rta activated the PAN promoter up to 7,000-fold in 293T cells and 2,000-fold in B cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that Rta formed a highly stable complex with the RRE of the PAN promoter. Our study suggests that Rta can induce PAN RNA expression by direct binding of Rta to the RRE of the PAN promoter. This study has highlighted an important mechanism controlling PAN RNA expression and also provides a model system for investigating how Rta transactivates gene expression during lytic replication.

scholarly journals Development of an ORF45-Derived Peptide To Inhibit the Sustained RSK Activation and Lytic Replication of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojuan Li ◽  
Lu Huang ◽  
Yunjun Xiao ◽  
Xiangyang Yao ◽  
Xubing Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Binding Region ◽  
Lytic Gene ◽  
Lytic Gene Expression ◽  
Virion Production ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT The lytic replication of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) requires sustained extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) activation, which is induced by an immediate early (IE) gene-encoded tegument protein called ORF45, to promote the late transcription and translation of viral lytic genes. An ORF45-null or single-point F66A mutation in ORF45 abolishes ORF45-RSK interaction and sustained ERK-RSK activation during lytic reactivation and subsequently results in a significant decrease in late lytic gene expression and virion production, indicating that ORF45-mediated RSK activation plays a critical role in KSHV lytic replication. Here, we demonstrate that a short ORF45-derived peptide in the RSK-binding region is sufficient for disrupting ORF45-RSK interaction, consequently suppressing lytic gene expression and virion production. We designed a nontoxic cell-permeable peptide derived from ORF45, TAT-10F10, which is composed of the ORF45 56 to 76 amino acid (aa) region and the HIV Tat protein transduction domain, and this peptide markedly inhibits KSHV lytic replication in iSLK.219 and BCBL1 cells. Importantly, this peptide enhances the inhibitory effect of rapamycin on KSHV-infected cells and decreases spontaneous and hypoxia-induced lytic replication in KSHV-positive lymphoma cells. These findings suggest that a small peptide that disrupts ORF45-RSK interaction might be a promising agent for controlling KSHV lytic infection and pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE ORF45-induced RSK activation plays an essential role in KSHV lytic replication, and ORF45-null or ORF45 F66A mutagenesis that abolishes sustained RSK activation and RSK inhibitors significantly decreases lytic replication, indicating that the ORF45-RSK association is a unique target for KSHV-related diseases. However, the side effects, low affinity, and poor efficacy of RSK modulators limit their clinical application. In this study, we developed a nontoxic cell-permeable ORF45-derived peptide from the RSK-binding region to disrupt ORF45-RSK associations and block ORF45-induced RSK activation without interfering with S6K1 activation. This peptide effectively suppresses spontaneous, hypoxia-induced, or chemically induced KSHV lytic replication and enhances the inhibitory effect of rapamycin on lytic replication and sensitivity to rapamycin in lytic KSHV-infected cells. Our results reveal that the ORF45-RSK signaling axis and KSHV lytic replication can be effectively targeted by a short peptide and provide a specific approach for treating KSHV lytic and persistent infection.

scholarly journals ZIC2 Is Essential for Maintenance of Latency and Is a Target of an Immediate Early Protein during Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Reactivation

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanzhi Lyu ◽  
Kazushi Nakano ◽  
Ryan R. Davis ◽  
Clifford G. Tepper ◽  
Mel Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Latent Infection ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Immediate Early ◽  
Chromatin Domains ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus

ABSTRACT Bivalent histone modifications are defined as repressive and activating epigenetic marks that simultaneously decorate the same genomic region. The H3K27me3 mark silences gene expression, while the H3K4me3 mark prevents the region from becoming permanently silenced and prepares the domain for activation when needed. Specific regions of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) latent episomes are poised to be activated by the KSHV replication and transcription activator (K-Rta). How KSHV episomes are prepared such that they maintain latent infection and switch to lytic replication by K-Rta remains unclear. K-Rta transactivation activity requires a protein degradation function; thus, we hypothesized that identification of cellular substrates of K-Rta may provide insight into the maintenance of KSHV latent infection and the switch to lytic replication. Here we show that a zinc finger protein, ZIC2, a key regulator for central nervous system development, is a substrate of K-Rta and is responsible for maintaining latency. K-Rta directly interacted with ZIC2 and functioned as an E3 ligase to ubiquitinate ZIC2. ZIC2 localized at immediate early and early gene cluster regions of the KSHV genome and contributed to tethering of polycomb repressive complex 2 through physical interaction, thus maintaining H3K27me3 marks at the K-Rta promoter. Accordingly, depletion of ZIC2 shifted the balance of bivalent histone modifications toward more active forms and induced KSHV reactivation in naturally infected cells. We suggest that ZIC2 turnover by K-Rta is a strategy employed by KSHV to favor the transition from latency to lytic replication. IMPORTANCE Posttranslational histone modifications regulate the accessibility of transcriptional factors to DNA; thus, they have profound effects on gene expression (e.g., viral reactivation). KSHV episomes are known to possess bivalent chromatin domains. How such KSHV chromatin domains are maintained to be reactivatable by K-Rta remains unclear. We found that ZIC2, a transcriptional factor essential for stem cell pluripotency, plays a role in maintaining KSHV latent infection in naturally infected cells. We found that ZIC2 degradation by K-Rta shifts bivalent histone marks to a more active configuration, leading to KSHV reactivation. ZIC2 interacts with and maintains polycomb repressor complex 2 at the K-Rta promoter. Our findings uncover (i) a mechanism utilized by KSHV to maintain latent infection, (ii) a latency-lytic cycle switch operated by K-Rta, and (iii) a molecular mechanism of ZIC2-mediated local histone modification.

scholarly journals Propranolol Decreases Proliferation of Endothelial Cells Transformed by Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus and Induces Lytic Viral Gene Expression

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (21) ◽  
pp. 11144-11149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane C. McAllister ◽  
Ryan S. Hanson ◽  
Rory D. Manion
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Viral Gene Expression ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinase ◽  
Lytic Gene ◽  
Adrenergic Antagonist ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Economic Constraints

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is common in Africa, but economic constraints hinder successful treatment in most patients. Propranolol, a generic β-adrenergic antagonist, decreased proliferation of KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-infected cells. Downregulation of cyclin A2 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) recapitulated this phenotype. Additionally, propranolol induced lytic gene expression in association with downregulation of CDK6. Thus, propranolol has diverse effects on KSHV-infected cells, and this generic drug has potential as a therapeutic agent for KS.

scholarly journals Transcriptome Analysis of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus duringDe NovoPrimary Infection of Human B and Endothelial Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 3093-3111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pravinkumar Purushothaman ◽  
Suhani Thakker ◽  
Subhash C. Verma
Keyword(s):  
Primary Infection ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Viral Genes ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus

ABSTRACTKaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infects many target cells (e.g., endothelial, epithelial, and B cells, keratinocytes, and monocytes) to establish lifelong latent infections. Viral latent-protein expression is critical in inducing and maintaining KSHV latency. Infected cells are programmed to retain the incoming viral genomes during primary infection. Immediately after infection, KSHV transcribes many lytic genes that modulate various cellular pathways to establish successful infection. Analysis of the virion particle showed that the virions contain viral mRNAs, microRNAs, and other noncoding RNAs that are transduced into the target cells during infection, but their biological functions are largely unknown. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the KSHV virion packaged transcripts and the profiles of viral genes transcribed afterde novoinfections of various cell types (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs], CD14+monocytes, and telomerase-immortalized vascular endothelial [TIVE] cells), from viral entry until latency establishment. A next-generation sequence analysis of the total transcriptome showed that several viral RNAs (polyadenylated nuclear RNA, open reading frame 58 [ORF58], ORF59, T0.7, and ORF17) were abundantly present in the KSHV virions and effectively transduced into the target cells. Analysis of the transcription profiles of each viral gene showed specific expression patterns in different cell lines, with the majority of the genes, other than latent genes, silencing after 24 h postinfection. We differentiated the actively transcribing genes from the virion-transduced transcripts using a nascent RNA capture approach (Click-iT chemistry), which identified transcription of a number of viral genes during primary infection. Treating the infected cells with phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) to block the activity of viral DNA polymerase confirmed the involvement of lytic DNA replication during primary infection. To further understand the role of DNA replication during primary infection, we performedde novoPBMC infections with a recombinant ORF59-deleted KSHV virus, which showed significantly reduced numbers of viral copies in the latently infected cells. In summary, the transduced KSHV RNAs as well as the actively transcribed genes control critical processes of early infection to establish KSHV latency.IMPORTANCEKaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of multiple human malignancies in immunocompromised individuals. KSHV establishes a lifelong latency in the infected host, during which only a limited number of viral genes are expressed. However, a fraction of latently infected cells undergo spontaneous reactivation to produce virions that infect the surrounding cells. These newly infected cells are primed early to retain the incoming viral genome and induce cell growth. KSHV transcribes a variety of lytic proteins duringde novoinfections that modulate various cellular pathways to establish the latent infection. Interestingly, a large number of viral proteins and RNA are encapsidated in the infectious virions and transduced into the infected cells during ade novoinfection. This study determined the kinetics of the viral gene expression duringde novoKSHV infections and the functional role of the incoming viral transcripts in establishing latency.

scholarly journals Glycolysis, Glutaminolysis, and Fatty Acid Synthesis Are Required for Distinct Stages of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Replication

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica L. Sanchez ◽  
Thomas H. Pulliam ◽  
Terri A. Dimaio ◽  
Angel B. Thalhofer ◽  
Tracie Delgado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthesis ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). KSHV infection induces and requires multiple metabolic pathways, including the glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and fatty acid synthesis (FAS) pathways, for the survival of latently infected endothelial cells. To determine the metabolic requirements for productive KSHV infection, we induced lytic replication in the presence of inhibitors of different metabolic pathways. We found that glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and FAS are all required for maximal KSHV virus production and that these pathways appear to participate in virus production at different stages of the viral life cycle. Glycolysis and glutaminolysis, but not FAS, inhibit viral genome replication and, interestingly, are required for different early steps of lytic gene expression. Glycolysis is necessary for early gene transcription, while glutaminolysis is necessary for early gene translation but not transcription. Inhibition of FAS resulted in decreased production of extracellular virions but did not reduce intracellular genome levels or block intracellular virion production. However, in the presence of FAS inhibitors, the intracellular virions are noninfectious, indicating that FAS is required for virion assembly or maturation. KS tumors support both latent and lytic KSHV replication. Previous work has shown that multiple cellular metabolic pathways are required for latency, and we now show that these metabolic pathways are required for efficient lytic replication, providing novel therapeutic avenues for KS tumors. IMPORTANCE KSHV is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, the most common tumor of AIDS patients. KS spindle cells, the main tumor cells, all contain KSHV, mostly in the latent state, during which there is limited viral gene expression. However, a percentage of spindle cells support lytic replication and production of virus and these cells are thought to contribute to overall tumor formation. Our previous findings showed that latently infected cells are sensitive to inhibitors of cellular metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and fatty acid synthesis. Here we found that these same inhibitors block the production of infectious virus from lytically infected cells, each at a different stage of viral replication. Therefore, inhibition of specific cellular metabolic pathways can both eliminate latently infected cells and block lytic replication, thereby inhibiting infection of new cells. Inhibition of metabolic pathways provides novel therapeutic approaches for KS tumors.

scholarly journals Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (Human Herpesvirus 8) Contains Hypoxia Response Elements: Relevance to Lytic Induction by Hypoxia

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 6761-6768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muzammel Haque ◽  
David A. Davis ◽  
Victoria Wang ◽  
Isabelle Widmer ◽  
Robert Yarchoan
Keyword(s):  
Promoter Region ◽  
Kaposi's Sarcoma ◽  
Human Herpesvirus ◽  
Kaposi’S Sarcoma ◽  
Lytic Replication ◽  
Human Herpesvirus 8 ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Hypoxia Response ◽  
Herpesvirus 8 ◽  
Response Elements

ABSTRACT Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8, is an etiologic agent of KS, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and multicentric Castleman's disease. We recently demonstrated that hypoxia can induce lytic replication of KSHV in PEL cell lines. Hypoxia induces the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), and we hypothesized that the KSHV genome may respond to hypoxia through functional hypoxia response elements (HREs). Here, we demonstrate the presence of at least two promoters within the KSHV genome that are activated by hypoxia or hypoxia mimics. One is in the promoter region of the gene for Rta, the main lytic switch gene, and the other is within the promoter region of ORF34, a lytic gene of unknown function. The ORF34 promoter contains three putative consensus HREs oriented in the direction of the gene. Dissection and site-directed mutagenesis studies confirmed that one of the HREs of the ORF34 promoter is functional. Under conditions of hypoxia, the ORF34 promoter was strongly upregulated by HIF-1α and HIF-2α. By contrast, the promoter of the gene for Rta appeared to be preferentially upregulated by HIF-2α. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that specific messages for ORF34 and ORF50 are upregulated in BCBL-1 cells exposed to hypoxia. An HIF-1 binding and competition assay demonstrated that the HRE sequence from the ORF34 promoter can compete for HIF-1α binding to an erythropoietin HRE oligonucleotide while a mutant sequence cannot. Thus, we demonstrated that a viral gene can be activated by hypoxia through activation of a functional viral HRE. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a functional HRE in a viral promoter.

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