Cyclin-dependent kinase activity is required for efficient expression and posttranslational modification of human cytomegalovirus proteins and for production of extracellular particles

Targeted therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize major recent findings on the biology of human herpesvirus-8, i.e. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, and the implications of these findings for Kaposi's sarcoma treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although reduced in incidence in developed countries since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, Kaposi's sarcoma incidence is still markedly increased in HIV-infected patients in resource-rich areas of the world and is a major complication among HIV-infected individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. The Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway has emerged as a major driving force in Kaposi's sarcoma. In addition, the roles of p53, the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus viral cyclin and nuclear factor-kappaB in the development and progression of Kaposi's sarcoma are being further clarified, and therapeutic agents are being developed that may target these pathogenetic mechanisms. New Kaposi's sarcoma treatments should be considered that target the molecular interface between virus and host.

SUMMARY

The growing knowledge of Kaposi's sarcoma biology provides multiple opportunities for rational targeted therapies. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms by which Kaposi's sarcoma develops and to develop therapeutic strategies that prevent resistance to treatment.

Accumulation of substrates of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC) during human cytomegalovirus infection is associated with the phosphorylation of Cdh1 and the dissociation and relocalization of APC subunits

Cell cycle dysregulation upon human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of human fibroblasts is associated with the inactivation of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC), a multisubunit E3 ubiquitin ligase, and accumulation of its substrates. Here, we have further elucidated the mechanism(s) by which HCMV-induced inactivation of the APC occurs. Our results show that Cdh1 accumulates in a phosphorylated form that may prevent its association with and activation of the APC. The accumulation of Cdh1, but not its phosphorylation, appears to be cyclin-dependent kinase dependent. The lack of an association of exogenously added Cdh1 with the APC from infected cells indicates that the core APC also may be impaired. This is further supported by an examination of the localization and composition of the APC. Coimmunoprecipitation studies show that both Cdh1 and the subunit APC1 become dissociated from the complex. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis demonstrates that as the infection progresses, several subunits redistribute to the cytoplasm, while APC1 remains nuclear. Dissociation of the core complex itself would account for not only the observed inactivity but also its inability to bind to Cdh1. Taken together, these results illustrate that HCMV has adopted multiple mechanisms to inactivate the APC, which underscores its importance for a productive infection.

Inhibition of the cyclin-dependent kinases at the beginning of human cytomegalovirus infection specifically alters the levels and localization of the RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain kinases cdk9 and cdk7 at the viral transcriptosome

We previously reported that defined components of the host transcription machinery are recruited to human cytomegalovirus immediate-early (IE) transcription sites, including cdk9 and cdk7 (S. Tamrakar, A. J. Kapasi, and D. H. Spector, J. Virol. 79:15477-15493, 2005). In this report, we further document the complexity of this site, referred to as the transcriptosome, through identification of additional resident proteins, including viral UL69 and cellular cyclin T1, Brd4, histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), and HDAC2. To examine the role of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) in the establishment of this site, we used roscovitine, a specific inhibitor of cdk1, cdk2, cdk7, and cdk9, that alters processing of viral IE transcripts and inhibits expression of viral early genes. In the presence of roscovitine, IE2, cyclin T1, Brd4, HDAC1, and HDAC2 accumulate at the transcriptosome. However, accumulation of cdk9 and cdk7 was specifically inhibited. Roscovitine treatment also resulted in decreased levels of cdk9 and cdk7 RNA. There was a corresponding reduction in cdk9 protein but only a modest decrease in cdk7 protein. However, overexpression of cdk9 does not compensate for the effects of roscovitine on cdk9 localization or viral gene expression. Delaying the addition of roscovitine until 8 h postinfection prevented all of the observed effects of the cdk inhibitor. These data suggest that IE2 and multiple cellular factors needed for viral RNA synthesis accumulate within the first 8 h at the viral transcriptosome and that functional cdk activity is required for the specific recruitment of cdk7 and cdk9 during this time interval.

Pharmacological cdk inhibitor R-Roscovitine suppresses JC virus proliferation

The human Polyomavirus JC virus (JCV) utilizes cellular proteins for viral replication and transcription in the host cell nucleus. These cellular proteins represent potential targets for antiviral drugs against the JCV. In this study, we examined the antiviral effects of the pharmacological cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor R-Roscovitine, which has been shown to have antiviral activity against other viruses. We found that Roscovitine significantly inhibited the viral production and cytopathic effects of the JCV in a JCV-infected cell line. Roscovitine attenuated the transcriptional activity of JCV late genes, but not early genes, and also prevented viral replication via inhibiting phosphorylation of the viral early protein, large T antigen. These data suggest that the JCV requires cdks to transcribe late genes and to replicate its own DNA. That Roscovitine exhibited antiviral activity in JCV-infected cells suggests that Roscovitine might have therapeutic utility in the treatment of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Five years of progress on cyclin-dependent kinases and other cellular proteins as potential targets for antiviral drugs

In 1997-1998, the pharmacological cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors (PCIs) were independently discovered to inhibit replication of human cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus type 1 and HIV-1. The results from small clinical trials against cancer were then suggesting that PCIs could be safe enough to be used clinically. It was thus hypothesized that PCIs could have the potential to be developed as novel antivirals targeting cellular proteins. Consequently, Antiviral Chemistry & Chemotherapy published in 2001 the first review on the potential of CDKs, and cellular proteins in general, as potential targets for antivirals. The viral functions inhibited by PCIs, or their cellular targets, were then just starting to be characterized. The antiviral spectrum of PCIs and their effects on viral disease were still mostly untested. Even their actual specificity was not yet completely characterized. In addition, cellular proteins were not accepted as valid targets for antivirals. Significant progress has been made in the last 5 years in understanding the antiviral activities of PCIs and the potential roles of cellular proteins in general as targets for antivirals. The first clinical trials of the antiviral activities of PCIs and other inhibitors of cellular protein kinases have now been scheduled. Herein, we review the progress made since the publication of the first review on PCIs as potential antiviral drugs and on CDKs, and cellular proteins in general, as potential targets for antiviral drugs. We also highlight the major issues that still need to be addressed before PCIs or other drugs targeting cellular proteins can be developed as clinical antivirals.