Charakterisierung eines neuen Zellschutzmechanismus des Humanen Herpesvirus-8

Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is the etiological agent of Kaposi’s Sarcoma. K13 is a HHV-8 encoded protein which protects against cell death. We used comparative proteome analysis to identify cellular proteins which are up-regulated by K13 and therefore may contribute to K13-mediated protection against cell death. We identified the mitochondrial anti-oxidant manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) as the strongest K13-induced protein in endothelial cells. The up-regulation of the primary defense enzyme MnSOD protected against superoxide-induced death. These results show a direct regulation of the redox balance of the mitochondria by K13 which may be important for the survival of infected cells in KS lesions.