title: Productive infection of HUVEC by HHV-8 is associated with changes compatible with angiogenic transformations.
abstract: Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative disease associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection. We have characterized the morphologic and phenotypic modifications of HUVEC in a model of productive HHV-8 infection. HHV-8 replication was associated with ultra-structural changes, flattened soma and a loss of marginal folds and intercellular contacts, and morphologic features, spindle cell conversion and cordon-like structures formation. Phenotypic changes observed on cordon-like structures included partial loss and redistribution of CD31/PECAM-1 and VE-cadherin, uPAR up-regulation and de novo expression of CD13/APN. Such changes demonstrate the induction, in HUVEC, of an angiogenic profile. Most of these findings are directly linked to HHV-8-encoded proteins expression, suggesting that HHV-8 itself may participate to the initial steps of the angiogenic transformation in KS.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Virology, Department of Biological and Technological Research (DIBIT), Medicine University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foglieni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scabini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Broccolo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lusso
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Malnati
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrero
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015850:Interleukin-6; C404106:MRC2 protein, human; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014764:Viral Proteins; C109540:latency-associated nuclear antigen