Monini P, Carlini F, Stürzl M, Rimessi P, Superti F, Franco M, Melucci-Vigo G, Cafaro A, Goletti D, Sgadari C, Butto' S, Leone P, Chiozzini C, Barresi C, Tinari A, Bonaccorsi A, Capobianchi MR, Giuliani M, di Carlo A, Andreoni M, Rezza G, Ensoli B. 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.
J Virol 1999;
73:4029-41. [PMID:
10196299 PMCID:
PMC104182 DOI:
10.1128/jvi.73.5.4029-4041.1999]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/1998] [Accepted: 01/25/1999] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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.
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