Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus cooperates with Epstein-Barr virus to co-transform a small set of human B cells oncogenically.

ABSTRACT: KSHV has not been found to transform human B cells alone. We show now it infects both peripheral and tonsillar B cells inefficiently and cooperates with EBV to co-transform a similar, small fraction of cells from both sources. These cells yield immortalized progeny, one hallmark of transformation, and depend on both viruses for their continued growth. The cells secrete multiple cytokines that support their paracrine growth and express viral genes that mediate expression of these cytokines. The co-transformed cells grow preferentially as tumors in the peritoneal cavities of NSG mice outgrowing B cells transformed only by EBV. The levels of EBV genes expressed in co-transformed cells decrease during growth in vitro and more so during tumor growth in vivo while those of KSHV increase, mirrori

SUBMITTER: Hayes M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12204619 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature