The lytic activation of KSHV during keratinocyte differentiation is dependent upon a suprabasal position, the loss of integrin engagement, and calcium, but not the interaction of cadherins.

We previously found that KSHV (HHV-8) lytic activation occurs during differentiation of oral keratinocytes in organotypic raft cultures. To further investigate the spatial and temporal aspects of KSHV lytic activation and the roles of integrins, cadherins, and calcium, we used rKSHV.219-infected primary oral keratinocytes in submerged, suspension, and direct suprabasal plating, models of differentiation.