title: Raf promotes human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8/KSHV) infection.
abstract: Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8/KSHV) is etiologically associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and other tumors. Constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway has been associated with a variety of tumors, including AIDS-related KS. The oncoprotein Raf is situated at a pivotal position in regulating the MAPK pathway. Hence, we analysed the effect of oncoprotein Raf on HHV-8 infectious entry into target cells. Here we report Raf expression to significantly enhance HHV-8 infection of target cells. These findings implicate a role for Raf not only in the infectious entry of HHV-8 but also in modulating KS pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. akulas@mail.ecu.edu
authors.forename: Shaw M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Akula
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Audy G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Whitman
authors.forename: Khalief E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hamden
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCubrey
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000821:virology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009570:Nitriles; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C113580:U 0126; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D004958:Estradiol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases