HHV-8 reduces dendritic cell migration through down-regulation of cell-surface CCR6 and CCR7 and cytoskeleton reorganization

Background: For an efficient immune response against viral infection, dendritic cells (DCs) must express a coordinate repertoire of receptors that allow their recruitment to the sites of inflammation and subsequently to the secondary lymphoid organs in response to chemokine gradients. Several pathogens are able to subvert the chemokine receptor expression and alter the migration properties of DCs as strategy to escape from the immune control. Findings: Here we report the inhibitory effect of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) on the migratory behavior of immature and mature DCs. We found that the virus altered the DC chemokine receptor expression and chemokine induced migration. Moreover HHV-8 was also able to interfere with basal motility of DCs by inducing cytoskeleton modifications. Conclusion: Based on our findings, we suggest that HHV-8 is able to subvert the DC migration capacity and this represents an additional mechanism which interferes with their immune-functions.