Virally encoded interleukin-6 (vIL-6) coordinates with human IL-6 to modulate cytokine expression during KSHV infection.

ABSTRACT: Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) is characterized by its ability to establish lifelong infections that can lead to disease in immunocompromised individuals. Understanding the complex interactions between KSHV, the host cellular machinery, and the immune response is essential for unraveling the mechanisms underlying viral persistence and pathogenesis. KSHV extensively remodels the host gene expression landscape by inducing widespread RNA decay via the viral endoribonuclease SOX. While the vast majority of cellular mRNAs are degraded by SOX, select transcripts including Interleukin 6 (IL-6) escape degradation. Interestingly, KSHV encodes a viral homolog of IL-6, known as viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6). Given the importance of IL-6 for KSHV biology and its ability to escape SO

SUBMITTER: Bermudez Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12621957 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature