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Journal of Virology, June 2006, p. 5577-5587, Vol. 80, No. 11
0022-538X/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JVI.00163-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection of Human Foreskin Fibroblast Cells Results in Atypical Cyclin Expression and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Activity

Stacey A. Leisenfelder and Jennifer F. Moffat*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams Street, Syracuse, New York 13210

Received 24 January 2006/ Accepted 14 March 2006

In its course of human infection, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infects rarely dividing cells such as dermal fibroblasts, differentiated keratinocytes, mature T cells, and neurons, none of which are actively synthesizing DNA; however, VZV is able to productively infect them and use their machinery to replicate the viral genome. We hypothesized that VZV alters the intracellular environment to favor viral replication by dysregulating cell cycle proteins and kinases. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclins displayed a highly unusual profile in VZV-infected confluent fibroblasts: total amounts of CDK1, CDK2, cyclin B1, cyclin D3, and cyclin A protein increased, and kinase activities of CDK2, CDK4, and cyclin B1 were strongly and simultaneously induced. Cyclins B1 and D3 increased as early as 24 h after infection, concurrent with VZV protein synthesis. Confocal microscopy indicated that cyclin D3 overexpression was limited to areas of IE62 production, whereas cyclin B1 expression was irregular across the VZV plaque. Downstream substrates of CDKs, including pRb, p107, and GM130, did not show phosphorylation by immunoblotting, and p21 and p27 protein levels were increased following infection. Finally, although the complement of cyclin expression and high CDK activity indicated a progression through the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, DNA staining and flow cytometry indicated a possible G1/S blockade in infected cells. These data support earlier studies showing that pharmacological CDK inhibitors can inhibit VZV replication in cultured cells.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210. Phone: (315) 464-5454. Fax: (315) 464-4417. E-mail: moffatj{at}upstate.edu.

Journal of Virology, June 2006, p. 5577-5587, Vol. 80, No. 11
0022-538X/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JVI.00163-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Leisenfelder, S. A., Kinchington, P. R., Moffat, J. F. (2008). Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1/Cyclin B1 Phosphorylates Varicella-Zoster Virus IE62 and Is Incorporated into Virions. J. Virol. 82: 12116-12125 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Finn, O. J. (2008). Immunological Weapons Acquired Early in Life Win Battles with Cancer Late in Life. J. Immunol. 181: 1589-1592 [Full Text]  
  • Zapata, H. J., Nakatsugawa, M., Moffat, J. F. (2007). Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection of Human Fibroblast Cells Activates the c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Pathway. J. Virol. 81: 977-990 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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