Biologic and molecular characterization of producer and nonproducer clones from HUT-78 cells infected with a patient HIV isolate.

HUT-78 cells were infected with a reverse transcriptase (RT)-positive supernatant of a culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from an AIDS patient and then cloned. Of these clones, two have been isolated and characterized. Clone D10 is persistently and productively infected with an HIV variant. The clone F12, in spite of the presence of an integrated full-length HIV provirus, does not release virus particles in the medium. D10 and F12 clones substantially differ in terms of protein pattern; that is, D10 is super-imposable to infected HUT-78 cells, whereas F12 exhibits a decreased uncleaved p55 gag precursor and the presence of uncleaved gp160 and of a unique p19, although they do not show qualitative or quantitative differences in viral RNA synthesis. Restriction patterns of F12 proviral DNA do not show major genomic deletions. These results indicate that F12 clone cells carry an HIV genome with minor mutations that probably affect the correct production of viral proteins at a posttranscriptional level. In addition, the F12 clone is resistant to high-multiplicity superinfection with HIV-1 or HIV-2.

Transfection of a retroviral construct carrying a non producer HIV-1 variant induces HIV-1 resistance in CD4+ CEMss cells.

The phenotype of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV)-infected HUT-78 cell clone (F12) has been described (Federico et al, AIDS Res Hum Retrov 1989; 5: 365-96). Briefly, F12 cells are: i) CD4 down-regulated, ii) non producer and iii) fully resistant to homologous superinfection. We tested whether this phenotype was dependent upon the expression of the HIV-1 genome integrated therein. The SstI/SstI F12 provirus was cloned and inserted in the pLj retroviral vector bearing the neomycin (neo)-Geneticine resistance gene. CD4+ HIV-susceptible CEMss cells were transfected with this construct in the sense orientation. Neo-resistant clones exhibited an integrated viral DNA, low viral mRNA expression and (as in F12 cells) the presence of uncleaved gp160, no gp41 and a small amount of p55 gag precursor. Superinfection of the F12/HIV-DNA-transfected CEMss clones showed that these CD4+ cells had acquired a significant (0.7-1.5 logs) resistance towards superinfection with HIV-1. This was observed in all four transfected clones where the F12/HIV DNA was expressed, but not in the control clone that was transfected with the pLj vector alone. These results confirm those that were obtained with human CD4+ CEMss cells infected with a recombinant retrovirus bearing the same SstI/SstI F12/HIV genome (Federico et al, J Gen Virol, 1993, in press). Both sets of results indicate that the expression of this genome in bio-engineered CD4+ human cells results in their intracellular immunization against HIV-1.

Caspase inhibitor blocks human immunodeficiency virus 1-induced T-cell death without enhancement of HIV-1 replication and dimethyl sulfoxide increases HIV-1 replication without influencing T-cell survival.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship, if any, between reagents that modulate survival of T-cells and replication of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and to determine the effects of the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and drugs such as cyclosporin A and all-trans retinoic acid on HIV-1 replication. DESIGN: To first establish the direct effects of solvent alone (ie, DMSO) at various concentrations on HIV-1 replication, followed by the ability of various compounds such as the caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-val-ala-asp-fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk), cyclosporin A, and all-trans retinoic acid on HIV-1 replication. Next, to determine if HIV-1 induces T-cell apoptosis using TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling) assays and DNA fragmentation and poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and then to examine how the various compounds influence T-cell survival after HIV-1 exposure. METHODS: The human T-cell line, CEM cells, were exposed to HIV(IIIB) and viral replication monitored using reverse transcription assays at 3, 6, and 9 days following infection. Cells were pretreated with various compounds dissolved in DMSO over a wide range of concentrations, and DMSO itself was also examined. T-cell death and apoptosis were assessed using TUNEL staining to detect 3'-OH DNA strand breaks and agarose gel electrophoresis to detect DNA fragmentation (laddering). Furthermore, PARP cleavage implicated in the apoptotic process was also examined. RESULTS: At very low levels, such as 0.002%, DMSO itself appears to enhance HIV-1 replication at 6 and 9 days after infection. At low levels of cyclosporin A, such as 0.01 microgram/mL, HIV-1 replication was further enhanced above the solvent effect, but at 1 microgram/mL, cyclosporin A strongly inhibited HIV-1 replication. Retinoic acid between 0.01 and 1 microgram/mL did not influence HIV-1 replication. In addition, a discrepancy was noted in that HIV-1-infected T-cells were TUNEL positive, indicating DNA strand breaks; however, more complete DNA fragmentation was not detected nor was PARP cleavage identified. The induction of TUNEL positivity was blocked by the caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk but not by DMSO or cyclosporin A. Even though z-VAD-fmk blocked the appearance of TUNEL-positive T-cells, there was not a consistently observed increase in HIV-1 replication. CONCLUSION: Low levels of DMSO and cyclosporin A can enhance HIV-1 replication in CEM cells. At higher levels, cyclosporin A inhibits HIV-1 replication with no significant effects by all-trans retinoic acid. No evidence for classic apoptosis was detected in CEM cells after HIV-1 infection, although DNA strand breaks may be present as revealed by TUNEL positivity. There was no correlation between levels of HIV-1 replication and T-cell survival or death. The mechanism of T-cell death after HIV-1 infection requires further study, and investigators who add compounds dissolved in DMSO must include controls to carefully examine the direct effects of even trace levels of this solvent on HIV-1 replication.

Post-transcriptional processing of cellular RNAs in herpes simplex virus-infected cells.

In HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1)-infected cells, the U(L)41 gene product carried with the virion has been shown to mediate the degradation of mRNA, leading to the shut-off of cellular protein synthesis. Analysis of the RNAs accumulating in cells infected with HSV-1 revealed the accumulation of RNAs encoding numerous cellular proteins both associated with and independent of activation of the NF-kappaB (nuclear factor kappaB) pathway. Studies on the activation of NF-kappaB and the expression and fate of selected cellular transcripts revealed the following. (i) In HSV-1-infected cells, NF-kappaB is activated by activated protein kinase R. Furthermore, the blockade of NF-kappaB translocation by suppression of protein kinase R activation does not render the cell more susceptible to apoptosis induced by viral gene expression. (ii) A number of mRNA up-regulated in infected cells [e.g. IkappaBalpha (inhibitory kappaBalpha), the immediate-early response protein IEX-1 and c-fos] are partially degraded and not translated. The degradation is U(L)41-dependent and results in deadenylation, endonucleolytic cleavage and 3'-5' degradation. The 5'-portion resulting from the endonucleolytic cleavage tends to linger in the infected cells. To date, the RNAs processed in this manner contained ARE (AU-rich elements) in their 3'-untranslated domains. RNAs lacking ARE were expressed and not degraded in this manner. (iii) Tristetraprolin and T-cell internal antigen-1, cellular proteins involved in the degradation of ARE-containing RNAs, are induced and activated in infected cells and tristetraprolin interacts physically with the U(L)41 protein.

Use of cis- and trans-acting viral regulatory sequences to improve expression of human immunodeficiency virus vectors in human lymphocytes.

We compared the efficiency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) vectors that express a marker gene (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, CAT) using different promoter elements. In one vector, CAT was expressed under the control of an internal murine leukemia virus (MuLV) long terminal repeat (LTR). In other vectors, CAT production was regulated by the HIV-1 LTR; these vectors also contained the HIV-1 tat gene and pol sequences reported to exert cis-acting positive effects on reverse transcription or gene expression. Vectors employing the Tat-driven HIV-1 LTR exhibited up to 500-fold greater CAT expression in Jurkat lymphocytes or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared with vectors using the internal MuLV LTR element as a promoter. This difference was not due to improved packaging of the vector RNA into virions, but to an improved level of gene expression in the target cells. Target cell CAT expression was two- to threefold higher for the vector containing the pol sequences and was only slightly less than that seen for a trans-complemented envdeleted provirus. These results indicate that defective HIV-1 vectors with efficiencies of gene transfer and expression comparable with that of HIV-1 itself are feasible.

Reversion of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase mutant at a second site restores enzyme function and virus infectivity.

The integration of a DNA copy of the retroviral RNA genome into the host cell genome is essential for viral replication. The virion-associated integrase protein, encoded by the 3' end of the viral pol gene, is required for integration. Stable virus-producing T-cell lines were established for replication-defective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 carrying single amino acid substitutions at conserved residues in the catalytic domain of integrase. Phenotypically reverted virus was detected 12 weeks after transfection with the integrase mutant carrying the P-109-->S mutation (P109S). Unlike the defective P109S virus, the revertant virus (designated P109SR) grew in CD4+ SupT1 cells. In addition to the Ser substitution at Pro-109, P109SR had a second substitution of Ala for Thr at position 125 in integrase. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to show that the P109S T125A genotype was responsible for the P109SR replication phenotype. The T125A substitution also rescued the in vitro enzyme activities of recombinant P109S integrase protein. P109S integrase did not display detectable 3' processing or DNA strand transfer activity, although 5 to 10% of wild-type disintegration activity was detected. P109S T125A integrase displayed nearly wild-type levels of 3' processing, DNA strand transfer, and disintegration activities, confirming that T125A is a second-site intragenic suppressor of P109S. P109S integrase ran as a large aggregate on a size exclusion column, whereas wild-type integrase ran as a monomer and P109S T125A integrase ran as a mixed population. Pro-109 and Thr-125 are not immediately adjacent in the crystal structure of the integrase catalytic domain. We suggest that the T125A substitution restores integrase function by stabilizing a structural alteration(s) induced by the P109S mutation.

Integrase mutants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with a specific defect in integration.

A previous genetic analysis of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase protein failed to identify single amino acid substitutions that only block the integration of viral DNA (C.-G. Shin, B. Taddeo, W.A. Haseltine, and C.M. Farnet, J. Virol. 68:1633-1642, 1994). Additional substitutions of amino acids that are highly conserved among retroviral integrases were constructed in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and analyzed for their effects on viral protein synthesis and processing, virion morphology, and viral DNA synthesis and integration in an attempt to identify mutants with a specific defect in integration. Four single amino acid substitutions resulted in replication defective viruses. Conservative, single amino acid substitutions of the two invariant aspartic acid residues found in all retroviral integrases prevented the integration of viral DNA and had no detectable effect on the other stages in the viral replication cycle, indicating that these mutants exhibited a specific defect in integration. Mutations at two positions, S-81 and P-109, blocked the integration of viral DNA but also resulted in the production of viral particles that exhibited reduced reverse transcriptase activity, suggesting additional defects in viral replication. Substitution of the highly conserved amino acid T66 had no effect on viral replication in a CD4+ human T-cell line. This analysis extends the range of possible phenotypes that may be produced by single amino acid substitutions in conserved residues of the integrase protein.

RNAs extracted from herpes simplex virus 1 virions: apparent selectivity of viral but not cellular RNAs packaged in virions.

Following the lead of recent studies on the presence of RNA in virions of human cytomegalovirus, we investigated the presence and identity of RNAs from purified virions of herpes simple virus 1. To facilitate these studies, we designed primers for all known open reading frames (ORFs) and also constructed cDNA arrays containing probes designed to detect all known transcripts. In the first series of experiments, labeled DNA made by reverse transcription of poly(A)(+) RNA extracted from infected HEp-2 or rabbit skin cells hybridized to all but two of the probes in the cDNA array. A similar analysis of the RNA extracted from purified extracellular virions derived from infected HEp-2 cells hybridized to probes representing 24 of the ORFs. In the second series of analyses, we reverse transcribed and amplified by PCR RNAs from purified intracellular or extracellular virions derived from infected HEp-2 or Vero cell lines. The positive RNAs were retested by PCR with and without prior reverse transcription to ensure that the samples tested were free of contaminating DNA. The results were as follows. (i) Only a fraction of viral ORF transcripts were represented in virion RNA, and only nine RNAs (U(L)10, U(L)34/U(L)35, U(L)36, U(L)42, U(L)48, U(L)51, U(S)1/U(S)1.5, U(S)8.5, and U(S)10/U(S)11) were positive in all RT PCR assays. Of these, seven were positive by hybridization to cDNA arrays. (ii) RNA extracted from cells infected with a mutant virus lacking the U(S)8 to U(S)12 genes yielded results similar to those described above, indicating that U(S)11, a known RNA binding protein, does not play a role in packaging RNA in virions. (iii) Cellular RNAs detected in virions were representative of the abundant cellular RNAs. Last, RNA extracted from virions was translated in vitro and the translation products were reacted with antibody to alphaTIF (VIP16). The immune precipitate contained a labeled protein with the apparent molecular weight of alphaTIF, indicating that at least one mRNA packaged in virions was intact and capable of being translated. The basis for the apparent selectivity in the packaging of the viral RNAs packaged in virions is unknown.

HIV variability and perspectives for a vaccine.

An overview of efforts to induce neutralizing antibodies in order to develop an effective vaccine against AIDS is presented. The principal Neutralizing Determinant (PND) on the HIV-1 envelope is described. PND variability and the induction of neutralizing antibodies by synthetic peptides representing PND are discussed. The use of a cocktail of different peptides representing the PND sequences of the majority of HIV-1 isolates, as well as the construction of hybrid immunogens containing PND of several viral isolates, could overcome the problems related to PND variability. A different approach based on the possibility of inducing a type of intracellular immunity is also discussed: a cellular clone (F12) obtained in our laboratory from Hut-78 cells infected with supernatant of cultured lymphocytes from an HIV-infected patient, does not release viral particles despite the presence of a full-length HIV-1 provirus. Moreover, F12 cells are fully resistant against superinfection with any HIV-1 or HIV-2 isolates. We are now attempting to reproduce the homologous viral interference by transferring the F12/HIV genome of the clone into HIV-susceptible cells in order to render these cells resistant to HIV infection.

Homologous superinfection of both producer and nonproducer HIV-infected cells is blocked at a late retrotranscription step.

An HUT-78 cell clone (F12) chronically infected by a nonproducer HIV-1 variant (Federico et al., (1989) AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses 5, 385-396) is fully resistant to superinfection with HIV-1 or HIV-2. We demonstrate that, in spite of the down-regulation of CD4 receptors, superinfecting-HIV-1 and -HIV-2 cross the F12 plasma membrane (even in the presence of OKT4A monoclonal antibodies) but fail to complete retrotranscription. We utilized a series of polymerase chain reaction primers designed to detect certain steps in the reverse transcription process. Superinfecting-HIV-1 (an African strain) and -HIV-2 are detectable using primers specific for env (for HIV-1), 5' LTR (the R and U5 regions), and vpx (for HIV-2). No amplification is visible when primers amplifying either HIV-2 gag or the "primer binding site" region of 5' LTR of HIV-2 are used. DNA-PCR performed on DNAse-pretreated HIV-1 and HIV-2 stocks failed to show any amplification. This rules out that any extra- or intravirion viral DNA contamination may have interfered with our results. In addition, no DNA amplification was observed in F12 and HUT-78 cells exposed to heat-inactivated HIV-2. Finally, when the nonproducer F12 cells as well as control CEMss cells are transfected with the HIV-1 infectious molecular clone pNL4-3, progeny infectious virus is obtained. These findings indicate that reverse transcription of HIVs superinfecting F12 cells is prevented from completing viral DNA synthesis. A similar block occurs in HIV-1-infected producer cells. When integration of the HIV genome into the F12 genome is achieved via transfection of a molecular clone, the virus life cycle can proceed as in control CEMss cells.

Genetic analysis of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase protein.

Single-amino-acid changes in a highly conserved central region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase protein were analyzed for their effects on viral protein synthesis, virion morphogenesis, and viral replication. Alteration of two amino acids that are invariant among retroviral integrases, D116 and E152 of HIV-1, as well as a mutation of the highly conserved amino acid S147 blocked viral replication in two CD4+ human T-cell lines. Mutations of four other highly conserved amino acids in the region had no detectable effect on viral replication, whereas mutations at two positions, N117 and Y143, resulted in viruses with a delayed-replication phenotype. Defects in virion precursor polypeptide processing, virion morphology, or viral DNA synthesis were observed for all of the replication-defective mutants, indicating that changes in integrase can have pleiotropic effects on viral replication.

A recombinant retrovirus carrying a non-producer human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 variant induces resistance to superinfecting HIV.

A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-infected Hut-78 cell clone (F12) shows a peculiar phenotype: it exhibits an altered viral protein pattern, is a nonproducer and is resistant to homologous superinfection. To determine whether this phenotype is dependent upon the expression of the HIV-1 genome integrated therein, the SstI/SstI F12 provirus [deprived of HIV long terminal repeats (LTRs)] was cloned and inserted in the pLj retroviral vector bearing the neomycin (neo) and Geneticin resistance gene. CD4+ HIV-susceptible CEMss cells (a CEM clone able to form large syncytia 2 to 3 days post-HIV infection) were infected with the recombinant retroviruses rescued from the F12/HIV-pLj-transfected (in either sense or antisense orientation) amphotropic packaging cells PA 317. Neo sense resistant gene clones showed approximately 10 copies of viral DNA/cell (without detectable major deletions) only in episomal form, low viral RNA expression and a viral protein pattern characterized by an uncleaved gp160, no gp41 and little, if any, p55 gag precursor (as in F12 cells). Superinfection of these F12/HIV DNA-engineered clones with HIV-1 resulted in a significant reduction in the yield of superinfecting HIV. This effect (more pronounced when the clones were maintained under neo selective pressure) was observed in all five retrovirus-infected clones exhibiting the presence and expression of sense episomal F12/HIV DNA but not in two clones bearing an antisense F12/HIV DNA or in one clone bearing only the pLj vector. These results indicate that bio-engineered human CD4+ cells expressing the F12/HIV genome exhibit a significant resistance to HIV superinfection.

Measurement of DNA methylase activity by tritium release from DNA cytosine.

The advantages of assaying of DNA methylase by measuring the transfer to water of tritium from the 5 position of DNA cytosine, rather than the transfer to DNA of labeled methyl groups are discussed.

Lipoxin A4 inhibits IL-1 beta-induced IL-6, IL-8, and matrix metalloproteinase-3 production in human synovial fibroblasts and enhances synthesis of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases.

Lipoxins are a novel class of endogenous eicosanoid mediators that potently inhibit inflammatory events by signaling via specific receptors expressed on phagocytic cells. Animal models have shown that lipoxin A4 (LXA4) down-regulates inflammation in vivo. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, the expression of LXA4 receptors, and their up-regulation by IL-1 beta, in normal human synovial fibroblasts (SF). We examined whether exogenous LXA4 abrogated IL-1 beta stimulation of SF in vitro. IL-1 beta induced the synthesis of IL-6, IL-8, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and -3. At nanomolar concentrations, LXA4 inhibited these IL-1 beta responses with reduction of IL-6 and IL-8 synthesis, by 45 +/- 7% and 75 +/- 11%, respectively, and prevented IL-1 beta-induced MMP-3 synthesis without significantly affecting MMP-1 levels. Furthermore, LXA4 induced a 2-fold increase of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and a approximately 3-fold increase of TIMP-2 protein levels. LXA4 inhibitory responses were dose dependent and were abrogated by pretreatment with LXA4 receptor antiserum. LXA4-induced changes of IL-6 and TIMP were accompanied by parallel changes in mRNA levels. These results indicate that LXA4 in activated SF inhibits the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines and MMP and stimulates TIMP production in vitro. These findings suggest that LXA4 may be involved in a negative feedback loop opposing inflammatory cytokine-induced activation of SF.

Identification of a novel expressed open reading frame situated between genes U(L)20 and U(L)21 of the herpes simplex virus 1 genome.

An open reading frame (ORF) situated between the U(L)20 and U(L)21 genes encodes a protein designated as U(L)20.5. The U(L)20.5 ORF lies 5' and in the same orientation as the U(L)20 ORF. The expression of the U(L)20.5 ORF was verified by RNase protection assays and by in-frame insertion of an amino acid sequence encoding an epitope of an available monoclonal antibody. The tagged U(L)20.5 protein colocalized in small dense nuclear structures with products of the alpha22/U(S)1.5, U(L)3, and U(L)4 genes. Expression of the U(L)20.5 gene was blocked in cells infected and maintained in the presence of phosphonoacetate, indicating that it belongs to the late, or gamma(2), kinetic class. U(L)20.5 is not essential for viral replication inasmuch as a recombinant virus made by insertion of the thymidine kinase gene into the U(L)20.5 ORF replicates in all cell lines tested [J. D. Baines, P. L. Ward, G. Campadelli-Fiume, and B. Roizman (1991) J. Virol. 65, 6414-6424]. The genomic location of the recently discovered genes illustrates the compact nature of the viral genome.

Mutations of serine 236-237 and tyrosine 302 residues in the human lipoxin A4 receptor intracellular domains result in sustained signaling.

Lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) is a potent negative modulator of the inflammatory response. The antiinflammatory activities of LXA(4), such as inhibition of agonist-induced polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) chemotaxis and upregulation of beta-2 integrins, require the expression of a G-protein-coupled, high-affinity LXA(4) receptor (LXA(4)R). We now report that stimulation of PMN with proinflammatory agonist N-formyl peptides (FMLP), calcium ionophore A(23187), or phorbol mirystate acetate (PMA) is followed by marked downregulation of LXA(4) binding (B(max) decrease of approximately 45%) and decreased activation of phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)) and D (PLD). Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying these effects was addressed by structure-function analyses of the intracellular domains of LXA(4)R. Mutant molecule, S236/S237 --> A/G (LXA(4)R(pk)) and Y302 --> F (LXA(4)R(tk)) were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis to yield receptors lacking the putative targets for serine/threonine kinase- or tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation. Expression of wild-type and mutated LXA(4)R sequences in CHO and HL-60 cells was used to examine LXA(4) ligand-receptor interactions and signal transduction events. Results indicated that cells expressing LXA(4)R(pk) or LXA(4)R(tk) displayed sustained activation of PLA(2) and PLD in contrast to the transient ones obtained with LXA(4)R(wt) (peak activation at 2-3 min). Moreover, inhibition of LXA(4)-dependent PLA(2) activity by PMA in LXA(4)R(wt) transfected CHO cells was not observed in cells expressing LXA(4)R(pk). Phosphopeptide immunoblotting revealed that the functional differences between wild-type and mutant LXA(4) receptors are accompanied by distinct changes in the receptor protein phosphorylation pattern. Further characterization of these and related LXA(4)R intracellular domains will help to better understand specific events that regulate the antiinflammatory activities of LXA(4).

Induction of HHV-8 lytic cycle replication by inflammatory cytokines produced by HIV-1-infected T cells.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is a gamma2-herpesvirus consistently identified in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman's disease. Although HHV-8 infection appears to be necessary, it may not be sufficient for development of KS without the involvement of other cofactors. One potentially important cofactor is HIV-1. HIV-1-infected cells produce HIV-1-related proteins and cytokines, both of which have been shown to promote growth of KS cells in vitro. Though HIV-1 is not absolutely necessary for KS development, KS is the most frequent neoplasm in AIDS patients, and AIDS-KS is recognized as a particularly aggressive form of the disease. To determine whether HIV-1 could participate in the pathogenesis of KS by modulating HHV-8 replication (rather than by inducing immunodeficiency), HIV-1-infected T cells were cocultured with the HHV-8-infected cell line, BCBL-1. The results demonstrate soluble factors produced by or in response to HIV-1-infected T cells induced HHV-8 replication, as determined by production of lytic phase mRNA transcripts, viral proteins, and detection of progeny virions. By focusing on cytokines produced in the coculture system, several cytokines known to be important in growth and proliferation of KS cells in vitro, particularly Oncostatin M, hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, and interferon-gamma, were found to induce HHV-8 lytic replication when added individually to BCBL-1 cells. These results suggest specific cytokines can play an important role in the initiation and progression of KS through reactivation of HHV-8. Thus, HIV-1 may participate more directly than previously recognized in KS by promoting HHV-8 replication and, hence, increasing local HHV-8 viral load.