BACKGROUND: The superantigen, encoded by the envelope gene (env) of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K18, may be involved in autoimmunity. Its expression is transactivated in B cells during infection with Epstein-Barr virus and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that are treated with IFN-alpha. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether HHV-6B infection was able to induce the expression of HERV-K18 env. STUDY DESIGN: The expression of HERV-K18 env gene was measured by real-time quantitative PCR in HHV-6B-infected PBMC. RESULTS: Infection of PBMCs with HHV-6B resulted in a rapid and dose-dependent induction of HERV-K18 env gene expression, predominantly in monocytes. Induction was dependent on the interaction of glycoprotein H with CD46, but did not require viral transcription or DNA synthesis. Cycloheximide inhibited both the induction and basal expression of HERV-K18 env, indicating that de novo synthesis of proteins was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: HHV-6B induced transcriptional activation of the endogenous superantigen HERV-K18 independently of virus replication, which may have consequences for the development of autoimmunity.
BACKGROUND: The superantigen, encoded by the envelope gene (env) of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K18, may be involved in autoimmunity. Its expression is transactivated in B cells during infection with Epstein-Barr virus and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that are treated with IFN-alpha. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether HHV-6B infection was able to induce the expression of HERV-K18 env. STUDY DESIGN: The expression of HERV-K18 env gene was measured by real-time quantitative PCR in HHV-6B-infected PBMC. RESULTS: Infection of PBMCs with HHV-6B resulted in a rapid and dose-dependent induction of HERV-K18 env gene expression, predominantly in monocytes. Induction was dependent on the interaction of glycoprotein H with CD46, but did not require viral transcription or DNA synthesis. Cycloheximide inhibited both the induction and basal expression of HERV-K18 env, indicating that de novo synthesis of proteins was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: HHV-6B induced transcriptional activation of the endogenous superantigen HERV-K18 independently of virus replication, which may have consequences for the development of autoimmunity.
Authors: Marta J Gonzalez-Hernandez; Michael D Swanson; Rafael Contreras-Galindo; Sarah Cookinham; Steven R King; Richard J Noel; Mark H Kaplan; David M Markovitz Journal: J Virol Date: 2012-05-16 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Jara J Joedicke; Lara Myers; Aaron B Carmody; Ronald J Messer; Harald Wajant; Karl S Lang; Philipp A Lang; Tak W Mak; Kim J Hasenkrug; Ulf Dittmer Journal: J Immunol Date: 2014-08-06 Impact factor: 5.422
Authors: Marta J Gonzalez-Hernandez; James D Cavalcoli; Maureen A Sartor; Rafael Contreras-Galindo; Fan Meng; Manhong Dai; Derek Dube; Anjan K Saha; Scott D Gitlin; Gilbert S Omenn; Mark H Kaplan; David M Markovitz Journal: J Virol Date: 2014-05-28 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Emil Kofod-Olsen; Janni M L Møller; Mariane H Schleimann; Bettina Bundgaard; Rasmus O Bak; Bodil Øster; Jacob G Mikkelsen; Ted Hupp; Per Höllsberg Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-03-26 Impact factor: 3.240