vFLIP upregulates IKK epsilon, leading to spindle morphology formation through RelA activation

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) vFLIP, a latent gene of KSHV, was first identified as a FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) protecting cells from apoptosis. The vFLIP protein has been shown to activate the NF-kappa B signaling involved in spindle morphology formation both in HUVECs infected with KSHV and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) itself. In this study, we independently established stably vFLIP-expressing cells and showed that they exhibited upregulated NF-kappa B family protein expression independent of the ability of IKK epsilon to bind vFLIP. Further, vFLIP induced upregulation of IKK epsilon, phosphorylation of RelA at Ser468 (p-RelA S468) and nuclear localization of RelA concomitant with spindle morphology formation, and these effects were reversed by knockdown of IKK epsilon and treatment with Bay-11. Overexpression of IKK epsilon alone also showed spindle morphology formation with p-RelA 5468. In conclusion, the spindle cell morphology in KS should be induced by RelA activation (p-RelA 5468) by IKK epsilon upregulation in vFLIP-expressing EA hy926 cells.