IL-21 signaling promotes the establishment of KSHV infection in human tonsil lymphocytes by increasing early targeting of plasma cells

Abstract

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) extensively manipulates the host immune system and the cytokine milieu, and cytokines are known to influence the progression of KSHVassociated diseases. However, the precise role of cytokines in the early stages of KSHV infection remains undefined. Here, using our unique model of KSHV infection in tonsil lymphocytes, we investigate the influence of host cytokines on the establishment of KSHV infection in B cells. Our data demonstrate that KSHV manipulates the host cytokine microenvironment during early infection and susceptibility generally associated with downregulation of multiple cytokines. However, we show that IL-21 signaling promotes KSHV infection by promoting both plasma cell numbers and increasing KSHV infection in plasma cells. Our data reveal that IL-21 producing T cells, particularly Th17/Tc17 and central memory CD8+ T cells may represent immunological factors that modulate host-level susceptibility to KSHV infection. These results suggest that IL-21 plays a significant role in the early stages of KSHV infection in the human immune system and may represent a novel mechanism to be further explored in the context of preventing KSHV transmission.