Human tumor-inducing herpesviruses, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV), are frequently associated with malignancies in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected patients. While EBV latent genes are essential as primary contributors to oncogenesis, several KSHV lytic genes either behave as oncogenes or at least have growth-promoting properties, suggesting that KSHV lytic replication may contribute to the disease progression. Furthermore, KSHV lytic replication has been postulated to be an important exogenous factor that influences the severity and rate of disease progression in HIV-1 infected patients, reducing survival and increasing the risk of transmission. The goal of this study is to better understand how KSHV lytic replication contributes to the development of pathogenic events and influences the life cycle of co-existing viruses, EBV and HIV-1, with a specific focus on the KSHV Transcription and Replication Activator (RTA) gene. Previous work has defined that KSHV RTA plays a central role in switching the viral life cycle from latency to lytic replication. In addition, KSHV RTA mimics the Notch signal transduction pathway to induce viral and cellular gene expression. Specifically, the induction of CD21 surface antigen and soluble CD23 protein by KSHV RTA/Notch signal transduction effectively facilitates EBV and HIV-1 infection, respectively. Based on these preliminary results, we hypothesize that the molecular mimicry of cellular Notch signal transduction by KSHV RTA plays an important role not only in inducing cellular and viral gene expression but also in providing a favorable milieu for co-existing viruses, EBV and HIV-1. Our biochemical and genetic studies in Aim 1 will define in greater detail the mechanisms used by RTA and cellular Notch signal transduction to induce viral gene expression. To define the contributory role of RTA, we will investigate in Aim 2.1 how RTA expression influences EBV and HIV-1 life cycle in culture. To further investigate the effect of RTA/Notch signal transduction on the disease induction and life cycle of coexisting viruses in vivo, we will use the well-established rhesus monkey animal model that is a natural host of rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV), the closest relative to KSHV, and develops acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) upon infection with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), the closest relative to HIV-1.
In Aim 2. 2, we will investigate whether the experimental infection of rhesus monkeys with recombinant RRV facilitates pathogenic events in the presence or absence of SIV infection. Utilizing these well-established in vitro and in vivo experimental conditions, the proposed study will detail the roles of KSHV and RRV RTA in the regulation of viral and cellular gene expression and in the development of pathogenesis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA115284-05
Application #
7612660
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-AARR-D (02))
Program Officer
Read-Connole, Elizabeth Lee
Project Start
2005-06-01
Project End
2011-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$305,244
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Lee, Myung-Shin; Yuan, Hongfeng; Jeon, Hyungtaek et al. (2016) Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Diverse Origins Support Persistent Infection with Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus and Manifest Distinct Angiogenic, Invasive, and Transforming Phenotypes. MBio 7:e02109-15
Lee, Hye-Ra; Mitra, Jaba; Lee, Stacy et al. (2016) Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Viral Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (vIRF4) Perturbs the G1-S Cell Cycle Progression via Deregulation of the cyclin D1 Gene. J Virol 90:1139-43
Jung, Jae; Münz, Christian (2015) Immune control of oncogenic ?-herpesviruses. Curr Opin Virol 14:79-86
Seo, Gil Ju; Yang, Aerin; Tan, Brandon et al. (2015) Akt Kinase-Mediated Checkpoint of cGAS DNA Sensing Pathway. Cell Rep 13:440-9
Brulois, Kevin; Wong, Lai-Yee; Lee, Hye-Ra et al. (2015) Association of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus ORF31 with ORF34 and ORF24 Is Critical for Late Gene Expression. J Virol 89:6148-54
Cheng, Fan; Sawant, Tanvee Vinod; Lan, Ke et al. (2015) Screening of the Human Kinome Identifies MSK1/2-CREB1 as an Essential Pathway Mediating Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Replication during Primary Infection. J Virol 89:9262-80
Lee, Hye-Ra; Amatya, Rina; Jung, Jae U (2015) Multi-step regulation of innate immune signaling by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. Virus Res 209:39-44
Liang, Chengyu; Oh, Byung-Ha; Jung, Jae U (2015) Novel functions of viral anti-apoptotic factors. Nat Rev Microbiol 13:7-12
Liang, Qiming; Chang, Brian; Lee, Patrick et al. (2015) Identification of the Essential Role of Viral Bcl-2 for Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Replication. J Virol 89:5308-17
Bowman, James; Rodgers, Mary A; Shi, Mude et al. (2015) Posttranslational Modification of HOIP Blocks Toll-Like Receptor 4-Mediated Linear-Ubiquitin-Chain Formation. MBio 6:e01777-15

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