Angiogenesis, Kaposi＇s Sarcoma and Kaposi＇s Sarcomaassociated Herpesvirus

Tumor angiogenesis is the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels in tumors,serving to supply nutrients and oxygen,and remove metabolic wastes.Kaposi's sarcoma (KS),a multifocal angioproliferative disorder characterized by spindle cell proliferation,neo-angiogenesis,inflammation,and edema,is associated with infection by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV).Recent studies indicate that KSHV infection directly promotes angiogenesis and inflammation through an autocrine and paracrine mechanism by inducing pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory cytokines.Many of these cytokines are also expressed in KS lesions,implicating a direct role of KSI-IV in the pathogenesis of this malignancy.Several KSHV genes are involved in KSHV-induced angiogenesis.These studies have provided insights into the pathogenesis of KS,and identified potential therapeutic targets for this malignancy.     

Pathogenesis and Associated Diseases of Kaposi＇s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus

Kaposi＇s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus （KSHV） is the primary,etiological agent of Kaposi＇s sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma and muticentric Castleman＇s disease. In common with the other herpesviruses, KSHV exhibits both latent and lyric life cycles, both of which are characterized by distinct gene expression profiles and programs. KSHV encodes proteins which play essential roles in the inhibition of host adaptive and innate immunity, the inhibition of apoptosis, and the regulation of the cell cycle. KSHV also encodes several proteins which have transforming and intrcellular signalling activity.     

Immunogenicity Analysis of Prokaryotic Expression Products of Kaposi＇s Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus orf65

To purify the protein encoding the small capsid protein (SCP) of KSHV and analyze its immunogenicity, the carboxyl terminus of orf65 of Kaposi's sarcoma associated-herpesvirus (KSHV) was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. The expression of recombinant E. coli containing pQE-80L-orf65 was induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and the fusion protein was purified by chromatography. The expressed protein and its purified product were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and showed that 9 kDa was the expected size of the purified orf65 protein. The antiserum was produced in rabbit which was immunized by purified orf65 protein. An ELISA assay was established to analyze the immunogenicity of the purified orf65 protein. The ELISA analysis demonstrated that orf65 protein has strong immune activity, and the immune activity of polyclonal antibody against orf65 was more than 4 fold higher than that in the serum of the non-immunized rabbit. These results demonstrate that purified orf65 protein has very strong immunogenicity and can be used in screening KSHV infection in the general population using ELISA.     

Expression of Kaposi＇s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus ORFK8.1 and Its Preliminary Diagnostic Application

The ORFK8.1 of Kaposi's sarcoma associated-herpesvirus (KSHV) was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. The expression of recombinant E.coli containing pQE-80L-orf K8.1 was induced by isopropyl-b-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The fusion protein was purified by chromatyography. The expressed protein and its purified product were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel eletrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE showed that a protein of 26 kDa was visualized as expected. A western blot assay was established to analyze the immunogenicity of purified recombinant 0RFK8.1 protein. The optimal condition of the recombinant ORFK8.1 ELISA assay was confirmed: the concentration of antigen was 5 ug/mL, the dilution of serum was 1:200. We used the ELISA method to investigate the recombinant ORF K8.1 protein's specificity, the data showed that the specificity of ORF K8.1 to detect KSHV was 100%. At the same time, 560 sera samples from Hubei province were detected by using ORFK8.1 ELISA to investigate KSHV seroprevalence in this region. The KSHV seroprevalence in Hubei province is shown to be 6.80%.     

Establishment of an ELISA to Detect Kaposi＇s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus Using Recombinant ORF73

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is causally related to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS),primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and a proportion of cases of multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). The ORF73 protein was cloned into pQE80L-orf73 and expressed in E.coli and purified. The expressed recombinant ORF73 was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A protein of about 27 kDa was expressed as expected. Western Blotting showed that the purified recombinant ORF73 reacted with KSHV positive serum. The immunogenicity of the recombinant ORF73 was further analysed by ELISA and the optimal conditions were determined. The ORF73 ELISA was used to compare the KSHV seroprevalence between Hubei and Xinjiang Han people. The Hart people in Xinjiang have significantly higher KSHV seroprevalence than their counterparts in Hubei (6.7% vs 2.9%, P = 0.005).     

Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) Induces the Oncogenic miR-17-92 Cluster and Down-Regulates TGF-β Signaling

KSHV is a DNA tumor virus that causes Kaposi’s sarcoma. Upon KSHV infection, only a limited number of latent genes are expressed. We know that KSHV infection regulates host gene expression, and hypothesized that latent genes also modulate the expression of host miRNAs. Aberrant miRNA expression contributes to the development of many types of cancer. Array-based miRNA profiling revealed that all six miRNAs of the oncogenic miR-17-92 cluster are up-regulated in KSHV infected endothelial cells. Among candidate KSHV latent genes, we found that vFLIP and vCyclin were shown to activate the miR-17-92 promoter, using luciferase assay and western blot analysis. The miR-17-92 cluster was previously shown to target TGF-β signaling. We demonstrate that vFLIP and vCyclin induce the expression of the miR-17-92 cluster to strongly inhibit the TGF-β signaling pathway by down-regulating SMAD2. Moreover, TGF-β activity and SMAD2 expression were fully restored when antagomirs (inhibitors) of miR-17-92 cluster were transfected into cells expressing either vFLIP or vCyclin. In addition, we utilized viral genetics to produce vFLIP or vCyclin knock-out viruses, and studied the effects in infected TIVE cells. Infection with wildtype KSHV abolished expression of SMAD2 protein in these endothelial cells. While single-knockout mutants still showed a marked reduction in SMAD2 expression, TIVE cells infected by a double-knockout mutant virus were fully restored for SMAD2 expression, compared to non-infected TIVE cells. Expression of either vFLIP or vCycIin was sufficient to downregulate SMAD2. In summary, our data demonstrate that vFLIP and vCyclin induce the oncogenic miR-17-92 cluster in endothelial cells and thereby interfere with the TGF-β signaling pathway. Manipulation of the TGF-β pathway via host miRNAs represents a novel mechanism that may be important for KSHV tumorigenesis and angiogenesis, a hallmark of KS.     

HHV6感染激活卡波济肉瘤相关疱疹病毒(KSHV)的溶解性周期复制

运用细胞融合、细胞混合培养、条件培养基培养和病毒直接刺激等方法,研究人类疱疹病毒6型(HHV6)对卡波济肉瘤相关疱疹病毒(KSHV)溶解性周期复制的影响。①将HHV6感染的JJhan细胞(T淋巴细胞系)与BCBL-1细胞(原发性渗出性淋巴瘤,PEL)进行细胞融合形成异核体细胞。②将HHV6感染的JJhan细胞与BcBL-1细胞进行混合培养。③收集HHV6感染的JJhan细胞培养上清液作为条件培养基进行灭活处理,以灭活前后的条件培养基培养BcBL-1细胞。进一步离心纯化HHV6病毒颗粒,并感染BCBL-1细胞,分别设紫外线和热灭活的HHV6病毒颗粒感染BCBL-1细胞为对照。提取上述的实验细胞总RNA,RT-PCR和／或实时定量(Real-time)PCR检测卡波济肉瘤相关疱疹病毒(KSHV)次要衣壳蛋白编码基因ORF26 mRNA转录。结果显示：①细胞融合后15h开始出现明显细胞病变,RT-PCR检测不同时间的实验组ORF26 mRNA转录水平均明显高于对照组;Real-time PCR检测各时间ORF26 mRNA转录水平是对照组的2．3倍以上;②细胞混合培养72h时,实验组ORF26 mRNA转录水平是对照组的1．8倍;混合培养5天时,实验组KSHV裂解周期蛋白K8．1表达水平是对照组的2．46倍;③灭活前后的HHV6感染细胞培养上清液培养BCBL-1细胞96h时,ORF26 mRNA转录水平分别是对照组的2．73倍和2．22倍;④灭活前后的HHV6均可增强BCBL-1细胞中KStHV ORF26 mRNA转录水平。提示：KHV6感染可激活KSHV的溶解性周期复制。     

Pathogenesis and Associated Diseases of Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV)is the primary etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma,primary effusion lymphoma and muticentric Castleman's disease.In common with the other herpesviruses,KSHV exhibits both latent and lytic life cycles,both of which are characterized by distinct gene expression profiles and programs.KSHV encodes proteins which play essential roles in the inhibition of host adaptive and innate immunity,the inhibition of apoptosis,and the regulation of the cell cycle.KSHV also encodes several proteins which have transforming and intrcellular signalling activity.     

Apoptotic Effect of Ganciclovir on Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cells Infected with Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

We evaluated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of two purine nucleoside analogues, acyclovir (ACV) and ganciclovir (GCV), on lymphoma cells stably harboring Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Colorimetric caspase assay, flow cytometry, and immunoblotting with antibodies against apoptosis-related molecules revealed that GCV has cytotoxic activity toward KSHV-infected primary effusion lymphoma cells, while ACV has weak or little activity. In addition to the GCV-induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis via caspase-7/8, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and accumulation of p53 and p21 were induced by GCV treatment. In contrast, neither ACV nor GCV have cytotoxicity- or apoptosis-inducing activities toward uninfected cells.     

Immunogenicity Analysis of Prokaryotic Expression Products of Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus orf65

To purify the protein encoding the small capsid protein (SCP) of KSHV and analyze its immunogenicity, the carboxyl terminus of orf65 of Kaposi's sarcoma associated-herpesvirus (KSHV) was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. The expression of recombinant E. coli containing pQE-80L-orf65 was induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and the fusion protein was purified by chromatography. The expressed protein and its purified product were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and showed that 9 kDa was the expected size of the purified orf65 protein. The antiserum was produced in rabbit which was immunized by purified orf65 protein. An ELISA assay was established to analyze the immunogenicity of the purified orf65 protein. The ELISA analysis demonstrated that orf65 protein has strong immune activity, and the immune activity of polyclonal antibody against orf65 was more than 4 fold higher than that in the serum of the non-immunized rabbit. These results demonstrate that purified orf65 protein has very strong immunogenicity and can be used in screening KSHV infection in the general population using ELISA.     

Lipids,lipid metabolism and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus pathogenesis

Lipids are essential for mammalian cells to maintain many physiological functions. Emerging evidence has shown that cancer cells can develop specific alterations in lipid biosynthesis and metabolism to facilitate their survival and various malignant behaviors. To date, the precise role of cellular lipids and lipid metabolism in viral oncogenesis is still largely unclear with only a handful of literature covering this topic to implicate lipid metabolism in oncogenic virus associated pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on the role of lipid biosynthesis and metabolism in the pathogenesis of the Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, a common causative factor for cancers arising in the immunocompromised settings.

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