Chromatin remodeling controls Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus reactivation from latency

PLoS Pathog. 2018 Sep 13;14(9):e1007267. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007267. eCollection 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of three human malignancies, the endothelial cell cancer Kaposi's sarcoma, and two B cell cancers, Primary Effusion Lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. KSHV has latent and lytic phases of the viral life cycle, and while both contribute to viral pathogenesis, lytic proteins contribute to KSHV-mediated oncogenesis. Reactivation from latency is driven by the KSHV lytic gene transactivator RTA, and RTA transcription is controlled by epigenetic modifications. To identify host chromatin-modifying proteins that are involved in the latent to lytic transition, we screened a panel of inhibitors that target epigenetic regulatory proteins for their ability to stimulate KSHV reactivation. We found several novel regulators of viral reactivation: an inhibitor of Bmi1, PTC-209, two additional histone deacetylase inhibitors, Romidepsin and Panobinostat, and the bromodomain inhibitor (+)-JQ1. All of these compounds stimulate lytic gene expression, viral genome replication, and release of infectious virions. Treatment with Romidepsin, Panobinostat, and PTC-209 induces histone modifications at the RTA promoter, and results in nucleosome depletion at this locus. Finally, silencing Bmi1 induces KSHV reactivation, indicating that Bmi1, a member of the Polycomb repressive complex 1, is critical for maintaining KSHV latency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / drug effects
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / genetics
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / physiology*
  • Depsipeptides / pharmacology
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / drug effects
  • Genome, Viral / drug effects
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / pathogenicity
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / physiology*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring / pharmacology
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / drug effects
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / genetics
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / genetics
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / physiology
  • Panobinostat / pharmacology
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / physiology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA Interference
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Virus Activation / drug effects
  • Virus Activation / genetics
  • Virus Activation / physiology*
  • Virus Latency / genetics
  • Virus Latency / physiology*

Substances

  • BMI1 protein, human
  • Depsipeptides
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • PTC-209
  • Rta protein, Human herpesvirus 8
  • Thiazoles
  • Trans-Activators
  • Panobinostat
  • romidepsin
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1