Varicella-zoster virus open reading frame 47 (ORF47) protein is critical for virus replication in dendritic cells and for spread to other cells.
Varicella-zoster virus infects human dendritic cells (DCs). We found that VZV infection of DCs resulted in down-regulation of Fas expression on the surface of cells. VZV ORF47 was critical for replication of virus in human immature, but not mature DCs. Immature DCs infected with a mutant virus unable to express ORF47 expressed similar levels of a VZV immediate-early protein as cells infected with parental virus; however, cells infected with the ORF47 mutant expressed lower levels of glycoprotein E. Thus, in the absence of ORF47 protein, there is a block in viral replication between immediate-early and late gene expression. VZV unable to express ORF47 was severely impaired for spread of virus from DCs to melanoma cells. Infection of DCs with parental VZV resulted in a different pattern of phosphoproteins compared with the ORF47 mutant virus. Thus, VZV ORF47 is important for replication in immature DCs and for spread to other cells.
Hu
Huiling
H
Medical Virology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Cohen
Jeffrey I
JI
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000821:virology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C503396:ORF47 protein, varicella-zoster virus; D014764:Viral Proteins