Project description:The purpose was to measure expression changes in human circular RNAs. Total RNA was harvested from KSHV-infected HUVEC and MC116 cells. A portion of the RNA was digested with RNase R to enrich for circular RNAs.
Project description:Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) cause ~2% of all human cancers. RNase R-resistant RNA sequencing revealed that both gammaherpesviruses encode multiple, uniquely stable, circular RNAs (circRNA). EBV abundantly expressed both exon-only and exon-intron circRNAs from the BART locus (circBARTs) formed from a spliced BART transcript and excluding the EBV miRNA region. CircBARTs were expressed in all verified EBV latency types, including EBV- positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and AIDS-associated lymphoma tissues and cell lines. Only cells infected with the B95-8 EBV strain, with a 12-kb BART locus deletion, were negative for EBV circBARTs. Less abundant levels of EBV circRNAs originating from LMP2 and BHLF1-encoding genes were also identified. CircRNA sequencing of KSHV- infected PEL cells revealed a KSHV-encoded circRNA from the vIRF4 locus (circvIRF4) that was constitutively expressed. In addition, KSHV polyadenylated nuclear (PAN) RNA locus generated a swarm (>100) of multiply backspliced, low-abundance RNase R- resistant circRNAs originating in both sense and antisense directions consistent with a novel hyper-backsplicing mechanism. In EBV and KSHV co-infected cells, exon-only EBV circBARTS were located more in the cytoplasm, whereas the intron-retaining circBARTs were found in the nuclear fraction. KSHV circvIRF4 and circPANs were detected in both nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions. Among viral circRNAs tested, none were found in polysome fractions from KSHV-EBV co-infected BC1 cells although low abundance protein translation from viral circRNAs could not be excluded. CircRNAs are a new class of viral transcripts expressed in gammaherpesvirus-related tumors that might contribute to viral oncogenesis.
Project description:In the current study, we examined the cellular and viral miRNA expression profile in KSHV-infected patients without clinical signs of KSHV-associated disease. In addition, we characterized the viral miRNAs encoded by KSHV and EBV during natural infections in these patients. Finally, we show that malaria infection results in major alterations of the molecular content of plasma exosomes.
Project description:Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). All PEL cell lines are infected with KSHV, and 70% are co-infected with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). KSHV reactivation from latency requires promoter-specific transactivation by the KSHV Rta protein through interactions with RBP-Jk (CSL), the cellular DNA binding component of the Notch signal transduction pathway. EBV transformation of primary B cells requires EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA)-2 to interact with RBP-Jk to direct the latent viral and cellular gene expression program. Although KSHV Rta and EBV EBNA-2 both require RBP-Jk for transactivation, previous studies have suggested that RBP-Jk-dependent transactivators do not function identically. We have found that the EBV latent protein LMP-1 is expressed in less than 5% of KSHV+/EBV+ PEL cells, but is induced in an Rta-dependent fashion when KSHV reactivates. KSHV Rta transactivates the EBV latency promoters in an RBP-Jk-dependent fashion and forms a ternary complex with RBP-Jk on the promoters. In B cells that are conditionally transformed by EBV alone, we show that KSHV Rta complements a short-term EBNA2 growth deficiency in an autocrine/paracrine manner. Complementaton of EBNA2-deficiency by Rta depends on RBP-Jk and LMP-1, and Rta transactivation is required for optimal growth of KSHV+/EBV+ PEL lines. Our data suggest that Rta can contribute to EBV-driven cellular growth by transactivating RBP-Jk-dependent EBV latency genes. However, our data also suggest that EBNA2 and Rta induce distinct alterations in the cellular proteomes that contribute to growth of infected cells.