Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce apoptosis with minimal viral reactivation in cells infected with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) latently infects tumor cells in patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). The purpose of this study was to determine whether histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAI) could induce apoptosis, with minimal viral replication, in cells latently infected with KSHV. Four HDAI (depsipeptide, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, MS-275, and trichostatin A) were studied in two PEL B cell lines (BCBL-1, BC-3).