Scientists Discover How Herpes Viruses Generate Cancer Cells

New research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has been used to discover how the herpes virus Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpes Virus (KSHV) causes cancer in AIDS sufferers.

According to the research, the KSHV corrupts the function of cells, causing cancer cells to form. More specifically, the KSHV protein called latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) takes the place of a cell protein called Notch that promotes cell growth and causes cells to multiply at uncontrollable rates.

LANA is what protects the virus living in infected cells from being destroyed by the immune system. We now know that LANA also prohibits the production of Notch which is so crucial in making cells develop. It also keeps cells in vital organs, like the brain, heart, blood, and muscle stable.

LANA accomplishes this by attaching itself to another protein called Sel10. While Notch is used to help develop cells, another protein called Intracellular notch (ICN) is used to make cells multiply. What scientists found is that in healthy cells Sel10 binds with ICN to regulate cell reproduction by regulating how much ICN is produced

LANA interferes with regulating the production of ICN because it too can bind with Sel10. When this happens, cells produce at uncontrollable rates.

Earlier, the researchists discovered that LANA also generates uncontrollable cell growth by attaching to, and breaking down tumor suppressors like p53 and VHL. Protein 53, or p53 is a protein that regulates cell reproduction by stopping the cells growth and VHL.

Presently, the researchists do not know if other herpes viruses that protect themselves from the immune system by entering cells also generate uncontrollable cell growth in the same way that LANA does.