Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus and extracellular vesicles
Lindsey Barrett, Lu Dai, Shanzhi Wang, Zhiqiang Qin
Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) represents the etiological agent for several human malignancies, including Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD), which develop mainly in immunocompromised patients. KSHV has established many strategies to hijack and thwart the host's immune responses, including through the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs represent a significant mode of intercellular communication as they carry a variety of molecules that can be delivered from cell-to-cell. EVs are now recognized as one of the major players in immune system development and function during both innate and adaptive immune responses. In the current mini-review, we summarize recent findings on how KSHV utilizes EVs to create favorable environments for viral spread and persistence while evading immune responses. We also discuss the limitations and unanswered questions in this field and the potential areas for related immunotherapies.