u-0126 and AIDS-Related-Opportunistic-Infections

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.

Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Blotting, Western; Butadienes; Cell Line; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epidermal Growth Factor; Estradiol; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; Herpesviridae Infections; Herpesvirus 8, Human; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Luminescent Proteins; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Nitriles; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; Receptors, Estrogen; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Sarcoma, Kaposi; Signal Transduction; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A