Varicella-zoster virus open reading frame 4 encodes an immediate-early protein with posttranscriptional regulatory properties

in Journal of Virology (1997), 71(9), 7073-7079

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes four putative immediate-early proteins based on sequence homology with herpes simplex virus type I: the products of ORF4, -61, -62, and -63. Until now, only two VZV ... [more ▼]

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes four putative immediate-early proteins based on sequence homology with herpes simplex virus type I: the products of ORF4, -61, -62, and -63. Until now, only two VZV proteins have been described as being truly expressed with immediate-early kinetics (IE62 and IE63). The ORF4-encoded protein can stimulate gene expression either alone or in synergy with the major regulatory protein IE62. Making use of a sequential combination of transcription and protein synthesis inhibitors (actinomycin D and cycloheximide, respectively), we demonstrated the immediate-early nature of the ORF4 gene product, which can thus be named IE4. The fact that IE4 is expressed with kinetics similar to that of IE62 further underlines the possible cooperation between these two VZV proteins in gene expression. Analysis of the IE4-mediated autologous or heterologous viral gene expression at the mRNA levels clearly indicated that IE4 may have several mechanisms of action. Activation of the two VZV genes tested could occur partly by a posttranscriptional mechanism, since increases in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) mRNA levels do not account for the stimulation of CAT activity. On the other hand, stimulation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat-or the cytomegalovirus promoter-associated CAT activity is correlated with an increase in the corresponding CAT mRNA. [less ▲]

Multiple redox regulation in NF-kappaB transcription factor activation

in Biological Chemistry (1997)

Involvement of different transduction pathways in NF-kappaB activation by several inducers

in Free Radical Research (1997)

Varicella-zoster virus immediate early proteins 4 and 62 interact with cellular transcription factors

Poster (1997)

In vitro models of non persistent and persistent infection of human and murine neuroblastoma cell lines by the varicella zoster virus

in Archives Internationales de Physiologie et de Biochimie (1997)

Lessons to be learned from varicella-zoster virus

in Veterinary Microbiology (1996), 53(1-2), 55-66

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is an alphaherpesvirus responsible for two human diseases: chicken pox and shingles. The virus has a respiratory port of entry. After two successive viremias, it reaches the ... [more ▼]

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is an alphaherpesvirus responsible for two human diseases: chicken pox and shingles. The virus has a respiratory port of entry. After two successive viremias, it reaches the skin where it causes typical lesions. There, it penetrates the peripheral nervous system and it remains latent in dorsal root ganglia. It is still debatable whether VZV persists in neurons or in satellite cells. During latency, VZV expresses a limited set of transcripts of its immediate early (IE) and early (E) genes but no protein has been detected. Mechanisms of reactivation from ganglia have not been identified. However, dysfunction of the cellular immune system appears to be involved in this process. The cell-associated nature of VZV has made it difficult to identify a temporal order of gene expression, but there appears to be a cascade mechanism as for HSV-1. The lack of high titre cell-free virions or recombination mutants has hindered so far the understanding of VZV gene functions. Five genes, ORFs 4, 10, 61, 62, and 63 that encode regulatory proteins could be involved in VZV latency. ORF4p activates gene promoters with basal activities. ORF10p seems to activate the ORF 62 promoter. ORF61p has trans-activating and trans-repressing activities. The major IE protein ORF62p, a virion component, has DNA-binding and regulatory functions, transactivates many VZV promoters and even regulates its own expression. ORF63p is a nuclear IE protein of yet unclear regulatory functions, abundantly expressed very early in infection. We have established an animal model of VZV latency in the rat nervous system, enabling us to study the expression of viral mRNA and protein expression during latency, and yielding results similar to those found in humans. This model is beginning to shed light on the molecular events in VZV persistent infection and on the regulatory mechanisms that maintain the virus in a latent stage in nerve cells. [less ▲]

Viral Integration Sites in Human Papilloma Virus-33-Immortalized Cervical Keratinocyte Cell Lines

in Cancer Genetics & Cytogenetics (1996), 90(1), 63-9

The viral organization of HPV-33 was determined by Southern blotting in 2 HPV-33-immortalized cervical cell lines (CK11 and CK12) and compared to our previous results obtained on 10 other already ... [more ▼]

The viral organization of HPV-33 was determined by Southern blotting in 2 HPV-33-immortalized cervical cell lines (CK11 and CK12) and compared to our previous results obtained on 10 other already characterized HPV-33-immortalized cell lines (CK1 to CK10). As observed in CK1 to CK10, the viral DNA was found integrated in the cellular genome of CK11 and CK12. However, in CK11 and CK12, the integrated viral genome was deleted and mostly limited to the URR and the E6-E7 ORFs, stressing the importance of those sequences in the immortalization process. Furthermore, CK11 and CK12 showed a unique and identical integration site, as observed in CK1 to CK10, which also harbored HPV-33 integrated at a unique and identical site (which was however different from the one evidenced in CK11 and CK12). Indeed, in situ hybridizations on chromosomes allowed the precise localization of the viral DNA on chromosome 13q33-34 in CK1 to CK10 whereas it was mapped to chromosome 9p13 in CK11 and CK12. We discuss the possibility that integration of HPV-33 at those two particular sites has conferred some growth advantages to the cells and could have thus played a crucial role in the immortalization. [less ▲]

Intracellular distribution of the ORF4 gene product of varicella-zoster virus is influenced by the IE62 protein

in Journal of General Virology (1996), 77(Part 7), 1505-1513

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 4-encoded protein (IE4) possesses transactivating properties for VZV genes as well as for genes of heterologous viruses, The major regulatory immediate ... [more ▼]

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 4-encoded protein (IE4) possesses transactivating properties for VZV genes as well as for genes of heterologous viruses, The major regulatory immediate-early protein of VZV (IE62) is a transactivator of VZV gene expression, In transfection assays, IE4 has been shown to enhance activation induced by IE62, To investigate the functional interactions underlying this observation, indirect immunofluorescence studies were undertaken to determine whether IE62 could influence IE4 intracellular localization in transfected cells, In single transfections, IE4 was predominantly found in cytoplasm, In cotransfection with IE62, the IE4 localization pattern was altered, with nuclear staining predominating over cytoplasmic staining, This effect was specific to the IE62 protein since the gene products of ORF63 and ORF61, which are also regulatory proteins, did not influence IE4 distribution, The use of IE62 mutants indicated that IE62 influence is independent of its transactivation function and that the integrity of regions 3 and 4 is required, IE62 remained nuclear whether IE4 was present or not, These observations underline differences in the regulation of gene expression between VZV proteins and their herpes simplex virus type 1 homologues, In infected cells, IE4 was only sometimes found to colocalize with IE62 in nuclei, This observation suggests that when all VZV proteins are present, complex interactions probably occur which could diminish the influence of IE62. [less ▲]

High Level of Mt-Mmp Expression Is Associated with Invasiveness of Cervical Cancer Cells

in International Journal of Cancer = Journal International du Cancer (1996), 65(2), 209-13

MMP-2 (gelatinase A) has been associated with the invasive potential of many cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. It is now becoming clear that the activation of this enzyme might be a key step in ... [more ▼]

MMP-2 (gelatinase A) has been associated with the invasive potential of many cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. It is now becoming clear that the activation of this enzyme might be a key step in tumor invasion. This activation process has been shown to be a membrane-associated pathway inducible by various agents such as collagen type I, concanavalin A or TGF-beta, but its physiological regulation is still largely unresolved. MT-MMP was recently discovered and described as a potential gelatinase-A activator. In the present study, we investigated the expression of MT-MMP (membrane-type metalloproteinase) in cervical cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Comparing several in vitro-transformed cervical cell lines, previously shown to display different invasive potentials, our results showed that the ability of cells to overexpress MT-MMP mRNA following ConA induction correlated with their ability to activate gelatinase A and with a highly invasive behavior. Moreover, using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we found a higher level of MT-MMP expression in invasive cervical carcinoma and lymph node metastases compared to its expression in non-invasive CIN III lesions. Our in vivo observations also clearly demonstrated a cooperation between stromal and tumor cells for the production of MT-MMP. Taken together, our results clearly correlated high level MT-MMP expression with invasiveness, and thus suggested that MT-MMP might play a crucial role in cervical tumor invasion. [less ▲]

Murine models of persistent infection of the nervous system by varicella-zoster virus

Poster (1996)