Establishing the Role of DC-SIGN and Glycoprotein H for KSHV Entry in B Lymphocytes

<p>Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, also known as KSHV or HHV-8, is an emerging pathogen and the causative agent of multiple cancers in immunocompromised patients. KSHV is known to cause four types of malignancies: endothelial-based Kaposi Sarcoma (KS), two rare B cell- based lymphomas; Primary effusion lymphoma, Multicentric Castleman’s disease and a recently characterized inflammatory disorder called KSHV-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome(KICS). Unfortunately, all of the diseases associated with KSHV infection are fatal, and to this day there is no known cure. The purpose of this study is to understand the viral entry process of KSHV in tonsil-derived B lymphocytes. This study will particularly explore the role of KSHV glycoprotein gH and cell surface receptor DC-SIGN.</p> <p>The first aim of this project will investigate whether the cell surface receptor, DC-SIGN, is required for viral entry of KSHV on tonsillar B lymphocytes. Various approaches will be performed. First, characterization of tonsillar B lymphocytes subsets that express DC-SIGN will take place via flow cytometry followed by analysis on whether KSHV can infect DC-SIGN+ or DC-SIGN- B cells. Second, manipulation of DC-SIGN will be performed utilizing a Neutralizing antibody (anti- DC-SIGN), to observe the change in KSHV infection on tonsillar B lymphocytes. Lastly, a DC- SIGN depletion strategy will be performed to vigorously answer the question of whether DC- SIGN is required for KSHV entry. The second aim that will be addressed is whether the KSHV glycoprotein H (gH) is required for entry into tonsil derived B lymphocytes. In vitro infection of tonsil derived B lymphocytes with a mutant KSHV virus that lacks gH, but retains all the other essential KSHV glycoproteins (KSHV-∆gH) will be performed and analyzed via flow cytometry. We will also combine these approaches with the KSHV-∆gH mutant virus in order to determine whether manipulation of DC-SIGN affects entry of this mutant into B lymphocytes. This study will help understand the initial modes of KSHV transmission in tonsillar B lymphocytes which is relatively understudied in the field and pave the way for the development of future therapeutics to prevent KSHV transmission.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2021

Author dc:creator

• Palmerin, Nancy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jennifer Totonchy, Ph.D.
• Surya Nauli, Ph.D.
• Rennolds Ostrom, Ph.D.

• KSHV
• DC-SIGN
• Glycoprotein H
• Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/pharmaceutical_sciences_theses/17

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:pharmaceutical_sciences_theses-1017