FIG. 11.

Model for cytoplasmic transport of HHV-8. After an interaction with cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) (A), integrin α3β1, and another unknown receptor(s), HHV-8 is taken into an endocytic vesicle (C). The interaction of the virus-receptor complex triggers signaling (D). Rho GTPases are some of the downstream mediators of the induced signaling pathways, which facilitate virus movement by inducing MT stabilization and regulating MT dynamics (E). The endocytic vesicles with virus or released capsid/tegument complexes bind to dynein motor components (F), are transported along the MTs to reach the MTOC (G) near the nuclear vicinity, and deliver the viral DNA into the nucleus. The question marks indicate the potential stages of HHV-8 entry and infection at which the induced signaling events may have a role based on the known functions of these signaling events.