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Alpha interferon inhibits human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) reactivation in primary effusion lymphoma cells and reduces HHV-8 load in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Abstract
Infection by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is associated with the development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Since regression of KS can be achieved by treatment of the patients with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha), we analyzed the effects of IFN-alpha or anti-IFN-alpha antibodies (Ab) on HHV-8 latently infected primary effusion lymphoma-derived cell lines (BCBL-1 and BC-1) and on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with all forms of KS and from at-risk subjects. IFN-alpha inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the amplification of HHV-8 DNA in BCBL-1 cells induced to lytic infection with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA). This effect was associated with the inhibition of the expression of HHV-8 nut-1 and kaposin genes that are induced early and several hours, respectively, after TPA treatment. In addition, IFN-alpha inhibited virus production and/or release from BCBL-1 cells. Inhibition of nut-1 and kaposin genes by IFN-alpha was also observed in BC-1 cells induced with n-butyrate. Conversely, the addition of anti-IFN-alpha Ab to TPA-induced BCBL-1 cells resulted in a larger number of mature enveloped particles and in a more extensive cytopathic effect due to the neutralization of the endogenous IFN produced by these cells. IFN was also produced by cultured PBMC from HHV-8-infected individuals, and this was associated with a loss of viral DNA during culture. However, the addition of anti-IFN-alpha Ab or anti-type I IFN receptor Ab promoted the maintenance of HHV-8 DNA in these cells that was associated with the detection of the latency-associated kaposin RNA. Finally, the addition of IFN-alpha reduced the HHV-8 load in PBMC. Thus, IFN-alpha appears to have inhibitory effects on HHV-8 persistent infection of PBMC. These results suggest that, in addition to inhibiting the expression of angiogenic factors that are key to KS development, IFN-alpha may induce KS regression by reducing the HHV-8 load and/or inhibiting virus reactivation.
AuthorsP Monini, F Carlini, M Stürzl, P Rimessi, F Superti, M Franco, G Melucci-Vigo, A Cafaro, D Goletti, C Sgadari, S Butto', P Leone, C Chiozzini, C Barresi, A Tinari, A Bonaccorsi, M R Capobianchi, M Giuliani, A di Carlo, M Andreoni, G Rezza, B Ensoli
JournalJournal of virology (J Virol) Vol. 73 Issue 5 Pg. 4029-41 (May 1999) ISSN: 0022-538X [Print] United States
PMID10196299 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
Topics
  • Genes, Viral
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human (growth & development, immunology)
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha (immunology, pharmacology)
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear (virology)
  • Lymphoma
  • Male
  • Morphogenesis
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate (pharmacology)
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Viral Load
  • Virion
  • Virus Activation

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