The viral latency-associated nuclear antigen augments the B-cell response to antigen in vivo

Gammaherpesviruses, including Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), establish latency in B cells. We hypothesized that the KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA/orf73) provides a selective advantage to infected B cells by driving proliferation in response to antigen. To test this, we used LANA B-cell transgenic mice. Eight days after immunization with antigen without adjuvant, LANA mice had significantly more activated germinal center (GC) B cells (CD19(+) PNA(+) CD71(+)) than controls. This was dependent upon B-cell receptor since LANA did not restore the GC defect of CD19 knockout mice. However, LANA was able to restore the marginal zone defect in CD19 knockout mice.