title: Neutral lipid alterations in human herpesvirus 8-infected HUVEC cells and their possible involvement in neo-angiogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, induces an intense modification of lipid metabolism and enhances the angiogenic process in endothelial cells. In the present study, neutral lipid (NL) metabolism and angiogenesis were investigated in HHV8-infected HUVEC cells. The viral replication phases were verified by rtPCR and also by K8.1 and LANA immunostaining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipid droplets (Nile Red) were higher in all phases and NL staining (LipidTOX) combined with viral-antigen detection (immunofluorescence) demonstrated a NL content increase in infected cells. In particular, triglyceride synthesis increases in the lytic phase, whereas cholesteryl ester synthesis rises in the latent one. Moreover, the inhibition of cholesterol esterification reduces neo-tubule formation mainly in latently infected cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that a reprogramming of cholesteryl ester metabolism is involved in regulating neo-angiogenesis in HHV8-infected cells and plays a likely role in the high metastatic potential of derived-tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, Cagliari, 09124, Italy. fangius@unica.it.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angius
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, Cagliari, 09124, Italy. sabrinauda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, Cagliari, 09124, Italy. enrica.piras@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, Cagliari, 09124, Italy. stefanospolitu2002@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spolitu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, Cagliari, 09124, Italy. ingianni@unica.it.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ingianni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, Cagliari, 09124, Italy. bbatetta@unica.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Batetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, Cagliari, 09124, Italy. rpompei@unica.it.
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pompei
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000254:growth & development*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids