Journal
ONCOTARGET
Volume 7, Issue 22, Pages 33363-33373Publisher
IMPACT JOURNALS LLC
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9221
Keywords
KSHV/HHV8; miR-K12-1; NF-kappa B; IL-6; STAT3
Categories
Funding
- National Institute of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI) [R01CA172090, R21CA189703, P30CA047904-25S]
- University of Pittsburgh Competitive Medical Research Fund
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The human oncogenic virus Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) is the most common cause of malignancies among AIDS patients. KSHV possesses over hundred genes, including 25 microRNAs (miRNAs). The roles of these miRNAs and many other viral genes in KSHV biology and pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Accordingly, the molecular mechanisms by which KSHV induces tumorigenesis are still poorly defined. Here, we identify KSHV miRNA K12-1 (miR-K12-1) as a novel viral oncogene by activating two important transcription factors, nuclear factor-kappa b (NF-kappa B) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Interestingly, miR-K12-1 activates STAT3 indirectly through inducing NF-kappa B activation and NF-kappa B-dependent expression of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) by repressing the expression of the NF-kappa B inhibitor I kappa B alpha. Accordingly, expression of ectopic I kappa B alpha or knockdown of NF-kappa B RelA, IL-6 or STAT3 prevents expression of cell growth genes and suppresses the oncogenicities of both miR-K12-1 and KSHV. These data identify miR-K12-1/NF-kappa B/IL-6/STAT3 as a novel oncogenic signaling underlying KSHV tumorigenesis. These data also provide the first evidence showing that IL-6/STAT3 signaling acts as an essential mediator of NF-kappa B oncogenic actions. These findings significantly improve our understanding of KSHV pathogenesis and oncogenic interaction between NF-kappa B and STAT3.
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