Herpesvirus acts with the cytoskeleton and promotes cancer progression

Abstract

The cytoskeleton is a complex fibrous reticular structure composed of microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments. These components coordinate morphology support and intracellular transport that is involved in a variety of cell activities, such as cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. In addition, the cytoskeleton also plays an important role in viral infection. During an infection by a Herpesvirus, the virus utilizes microfilaments to enter cells and travel to the nucleus by microtubules; the viral DNA replicates with the help of host microfilaments; and the virus particles start assembling with a capsid in the cytoplasm before egress. The cytoskeleton changes in cells infected with Herpesvirus are made to either counteract or obey the virus, thereby promote cell transforming into cancerous ones. This article aims to clarify the interaction between the virus and cytoskeleton components in the process of Herpesvirus infection and the molecular motor, cytoskeleton-associated proteins and drugs that play an important role in the process of a Herpesvirus infection and carcinogenesis process.

Keywords: Herpesvirus; cancer; cytoskeleton; drugs; infection.

Figure 1

Model of herpesvirus entry, DNA replication and egress with the help of microfilaments. A. The activity arises in cortex and cytoplasm when a herpesvirus enters and egresses. B. The activity occurs in the nuclear periphery and inside.

Figure 2

Microtubules interact with herpesvirus during viral infection. Herpesvirus retrograde transports along microtubule by interacting with dynein or dynein/dynactin complex when virus targets nucleus. After egresses from nucleus, herpesvirus anterograde transports along microtubule by interacting with kinesin or acetylating microtubule.