Anti Human Herpesvirus 8 antibodies regulate the metabolic modifications induced by viral infection on primary endothelial cells

Introduction: The human Herpes virus 8 (HHV8) is the causative agent of Kaposi sarcoma and other lymphoproliferative diseases. Like most herpesviruses, HHV8 presents a lytic and a latent phase of replication. During viral infection, the cells undergo a dramatic modification of their metabolism, showing an increase in glucose uptake and consumption, as well as an enhanced synthesis and catabolism of fatty acids and triglycerides. These modifications are believed to depend on the activation of the PI3K complex, which is induced by the functional viral proteins inserted in the cell membranes (1). All these findings were observed in in vitro models and did not consider the immune response against viral antigens that is normally produced in vivo. This work studies the effect of anti-HHV8 antibodies on the metabolic modifications induced by viral infection in HUVEC cells.